Consultation outcome

Modifying timetable publication in Network Rail’s licence​

From:
Office of Rail and Road
Published
5 May 2023
Last updated
8 August 2023 — See all updates
This consultation has concluded

Detail of outcome

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) published its decision letter on 28 July 2023. This set out:

  • ORR’s decision not to proceed with the licence modifications at this time
  • a summary of responses to the licence modification proposals and views on the potential reduction of the 12-week publication period for timetable confirmation
  • its consideration of the responses
  • how it would consider any further timetabling-related proposals that would change either the Network Code or Network Rail’s network licence

Read the full outcome on ORR’s website.

Detail of feedback received

The Office of Rail and Road published responses to this consultation on 28 July 2023.

Original consultation

Summary

Seeks feedback on rail industry proposals to modify Network Rail’s network licence requirement to publish a timetable 12 weeks in advance of services running.

This consultation was held on another website.

This consultation ran from
to

Consultation description

Condition 7.18 of Network Rail’s network licence requires Network Rail to provide train operators with timetable information 12 weeks in advance of trains running following a timetable change.

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) proposes to remove the explicit reference to 12 weeks. It would be replaced with a requirement for Network Rail to follow the timescales in the network code.  

In parallel, Network Rail’s timetabling reform programme, Better Timetables for Passengers and Freight, has agreed to formalise different timelines in the network code for the publication of train timetables.

The network code proposal would introduce 8 weeks as the deadline for publishing a timetable in advance of trains running.

Our consultation asks whether the proposed Network Rail licence changes achieved the following objectives:  

  • future proofing the timetable information deadlines for industry by explicitly linking the licence and network code 
  • improving the clarity of the ‘relevant timetable change’ definition
  • enabling Office of Rail and Road to consider the industry-agreed proposal to amend the network code at a future point, so timetables are finalised 8 weeks prior to trains running

Respondents are also asked to provide evidence of how finalising a timetable with fewer than 12 weeks’ notice would impact on planning journeys.

Published 5 May 2023
Last updated 8 August 2023 + show all updates

  1. Consultation outcome update.

  2. First published.