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Transport Rail

'Making A Difference: Reducing Burdens on Network Rail [PDF 325KB, 31 pages] is a joint project between the unit and the Department for Transport (DfT), published 1st April 2004. It aims to deliver practical changes that reduce or remove unnecessary bureaucracy on Network Rail.

Scope

Within a regulated industry such as rail, data and information is needed from Network Rail to continue high levels of safety, deliver value for money, drive improvement in rail services and monitor the activities of a monopoly provider. The project team interviewed a range of staff working in Network Rail's regions, its operational areas and Head Office. The ideas in this report come from those interviews.

Background

The delivery of safe, efficient and reliable rail services to passengers and other customers is a key priority for this Government and the rail industry. The structure of rail services is complex. There are too many organisations, some with overlapping responsibilities. This can lead to unnecessary bureaucracy and get in the way of effective decision making. The Secretary of State for Transport has already announced a review of the current structures to ensure a 'streamlined structure and organisation with clear lines of responsibility and accountability'.

Prior to the announcement of this review, a joint team from the DfT and the RIU was asked to conduct a project:

'To reduce and remove the unnecessary bureaucratic and administrative burdens relating to data and information requirements placed on Network Rail by the Department for Transport and other key stakeholders.'

Approach

To oversee this study, a Project Board was set up, consisting of representatives from the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA), the Office of the Rail Regulator (ORR), the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Network Rail, DfT and the Cabinet Office. The Project Board supported the project team to deliver agreed changes to practices and procedures that will free up staff time to deliver more efficient and higher quality rail services.

Key achievements

The report delivers 15 practical changes [PDF 133KB, 4 pages]; none are recommendations.
These changes will mean:

Next Steps

Responsibility for delivery rests with the stakeholders. The project team will continue to work with them to ensure that the actions are delivered as agreed and are communicated effectively to the relevant staff.

DfT's overview of progress to implement the actions [External website] as of the end of November 2004 is available on their website.

For further enquires or information please contact the unit at psinfo@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk