In its Strategic Business Plan Network Rail proposed to undertake a slightly lower level of track renewals activity in Control Period 4 compared with CP3. This was after achieving efficiency savings of 23% in the current CP3, below the 30% target set by ORR. Expenditure on renewals in CP4 was put at £4bn, based on improved efficiency and productivity from new equipment and techniques.rnIn its final determinations published on October 30 (RB1330 pi), ORR cut back the volume of plain line renewals slightly, partly because it thought that on some lower-category primary routes rail is being removed even though the defect history does not suggest renewal to be necessary. ORR alsornconsidered that increased attention to drainage, better maintenance, improving standards of renewal and more consistent application of policies in the specification of work to minimise whole-life costs should all lead to better reliability and longer asset lives. Overall, ORR assumed a 5% reduction on the figures in NR's SBP.
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