Network Rail faces £3m fine over timetabling system

According to the ORR, the proposed financial penalty follows confirmation in September 2010 that Network Rail had breached its licence after problems arose from the introduction of the integrated train planning system (ITPS) for the May 2010 timetable.

System faults are said to have left some operators temporarily unable to publish information or take bookings and reservations. ORR says freight and passenger charter operators were some of the hardest hit as very late confirmation of services left them unable to plan their businesses properly, and facing revenue losses because of customer cancellations.

The regulator’s investigation into the introduction of ITPS found that, while Network Rail was right to replace old and inefficient timetabling systems and processes, its implementation of the new system failed to consider properly, mitigate and communicate the risks of initial problems affecting operators and passengers.

Bill Emery, ORR chief executive, said: ‘Network Rail was right to replace old and inefficient timetabling systems and processes, and in time its new integrated train planning system should bring longer-term benefits to the industry.