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Poor information from train operators also compounded issues as delays and cancellations severely disrupted train journeys when timetables changes were introduced on Govia Thameslink and Northern routes, the interim inquiry report from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) found.
The independent regulator, which accepted some responsibility for the chaos for failing to sufficiently question industry assurances, found the operators and Department for Transport (DfT) made mistakes that contributed to the collapse of services.
“The May 2018 timetable was meant to offer more services and reliability, but in reality it led to major disruption for passengers,” said ORR and inquiry chairman Professor Stephen Glaister.
On 20 May, the rail industry “attempted to introduce the biggest timetable change in a generation”. The Great North Rail Project, which cost more than £1bn and included the North West Electrification Programme (NWEP), and the £7bn Thameslink programme should have added more services to new destinations, introduced new rolling stock, provided more seats for passengers and improved reliability.
Delays to completing the NWEP were made worse by Network Rail, the ORR found, the network manager wrongly believing it could make up the time. The report also found the DfT’s decision to agree to phase the introduction of Thameslink stretched resources at Network Rail’s timetabling department and that the industry, as a whole, failed to realise that these combined factors created a serious risk that the revised timetable could fail.
During the planning stages the industry placed engineering and planning concerns ahead of serving its passengers, the inquiry found, and that was made worse by the poor information train operators provided when disruption happened.
There is an “apparent gap in industry responsibility and accountability for managing systemic risks, and that needs to change,” the ORR said.
“Good intentions and over-optimism within the rail industry about its ability to recover missed deadlines left no time to uncover and fix problems,” said Professor Glaister. “When problems arose, timetable planners were stretched and train operators were ill-equipped to help passengers.”
The publication of the interim report came as the Government announced a “sweeping” review to transform the UK’s railways in an attempt to reduce disruption and improve accountability.
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