Train GraphicClick on the map to explore geographics
 
I need help
FAQ
Emergency
About .
Travel & transport from BBC stories as at 13:35 28 Mar 2024
* Man held over stabbing in front of train passengers
- How do I renew my UK passport and what is the 10-year rule?
- Easter travel warning as millions set to hit roads
Read about the forum [here].
Register [here] - it's free.
What do I gain from registering? [here]
 02/06/24 - Summer Timetable starts
17/08/24 - Bus to Imber
27/09/25 - 200 years of passenger trains

On this day
28th Mar (1988)
Formal end to carrying coffins by BR (link)

Train RunningCancelled
11:23 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington
11:50 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
12:15 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
12:30 London Paddington to Weston-Super-Mare
13:00 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington
13:15 Swindon to Westbury
13:26 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington
13:30 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads
14:19 Westbury to Swindon
15:14 Swindon to Westbury
Short Run
08:03 London Paddington to Penzance
10:35 London Paddington to Exeter St Davids
10:55 Paignton to London Paddington
11:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central
11:48 London Paddington to Carmarthen
12:03 London Paddington to Penzance
12:12 Salisbury to Bristol Temple Meads
12:42 Bristol Temple Meads to Salisbury
12:46 Avonmouth to Weston-Super-Mare
13:03 London Paddington to Plymouth
13:07 Salisbury to Bristol Temple Meads
13:10 Gloucester to Weymouth
13:26 Okehampton to Exeter Central
14:05 Salisbury to Bristol Temple Meads
16:19 Carmarthen to London Paddington
Delayed
10:04 London Paddington to Penzance
10:23 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central
11:29 Weymouth to Gloucester
11:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
12:27 Okehampton to Exeter Central
12:28 Plymouth to Gunnislake
12:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
14:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
PollsOpen and recent polls
Closed 2024-03-25 Easter Escape - to where?
Abbreviation pageAcronymns and abbreviations
Stn ComparatorStation Comparator
Rail newsNews Now - live rail news feed
Site Style 1 2 3 4
Next departures • Bristol Temple MeadsBath SpaChippenhamSwindonDidcot ParkwayReadingLondon PaddingtonMelksham
Exeter St DavidsTauntonWestburyTrowbridgeBristol ParkwayCardiff CentralOxfordCheltenham SpaBirmingham New Street
March 28, 2024, 13:36:38 *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Forgotten your username or password? - get a reminder
Most recently liked subjects
[142] West Wiltshire Bus Changes April 2024
[80] would you like your own LIVE train station departure board?
[56] Return of the BRUTE?
[46] If not HS2 to Manchester, how will traffic be carried?
[43] Infrastructure problems in Thames Valley causing disruption el...
[34] Reversing Beeching - bring heritage and freight lines into the...
 
News: A forum for passengers ... with input from rail professionals welcomed too
 
   Home   Help Search Calendar Login Register  
Pages: [1]
  Print  
Author Topic: Transport Secretary appoints interim Chair of Office of Rail and Road  (Read 12948 times)
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40690



View Profile WWW Email
« on: December 17, 2015, 18:21:39 »

Quote
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has today, Thursday 17 December 2015, announced the appointment of Professor Stephen Glaister CBE FICE FTRF FCGI as the Chair of the Office of Rail and Road (ORR» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about)) for a 12-month term.

Professor Glaister will replace the current chair, Anna Walker, when she steps down as planned at the end of this month after more than 6 years in the role. He will be responsible for leading the independent regulator as it continues its vital role in holding Network Rail and Highways England to account, and ensuring safety and efficiency.

The Transport Secretary has chosen to appoint a chair for an interim period of 12 months while work continues on a government project looking at the future role and responsibilities of the ORR, following the recommendations of an independent report by Dame Colette Bowe earlier this year. This work is being carried out in parallel with Nicola Shaw^s report on the longer term shape and financing of Network Rail, which is due to conclude next year.

Much more about the reasons for this appointment, the history, and the Professor's background at

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/transport-secretary-appoints-interim-chair-of-office-of-rail-and-road
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
Lee
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 7519


GBR - The Emperor's New Rail Network


View Profile WWW
« Reply #1 on: December 17, 2015, 19:02:38 »

Interesting that a man well-known for his view that "unprofitable branch lines" should shut is now the Chair of the organisation which decides whether or not to ratify closure proposals...
Logged

Vous devez être impitoyable, parce que ces gens sont des salauds - https://looka.com/s/78722877
Tim
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 2738


View Profile
« Reply #2 on: December 18, 2015, 09:38:36 »

He is very pro roads.  I seem to recall that some of his pronouncements on behalf of the RAC (I think he has previously employed by their lobbying wing) were rather "Clarkson" if you know what I mean. 
Logged
Red Squirrel
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 5190


There are some who call me... Tim


View Profile
« Reply #3 on: December 18, 2015, 10:16:16 »

He is very pro roads.  I seem to recall that some of his pronouncements on behalf of the RAC (I think he has previously employed by their lobbying wing) were rather "Clarkson" if you know what I mean. 

He is a past Director of the RAC foundation.
Logged

Things take longer to happen than you think they will, and then they happen faster than you thought they could.
paul7575
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 5316


View Profile
« Reply #4 on: December 18, 2015, 14:26:58 »

As chairman of the ORR» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about), surely he won't have any responsibility for deciding any openings or closures?  It isn't their job, AFAICT (as far as I can tell).

Paul

Logged
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40690



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #5 on: December 18, 2015, 14:58:34 »

As chairman of the ORR» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about), surely he won't have any responsibility for deciding any openings or closures?  It isn't their job, AFAICT (as far as I can tell).

Paul

His comments from the government release:

Quote
I am honoured to be leading ORR as chair at this time of both rejuvenation and enhancement for rail and road, working with ORR^s expert staff ^ all of whom are committed to serving the public interest.

The UK (United Kingdom) transport sector continues to expand, demanding a stable, secure and well-governed regime to enable it to provide adequately for the needs of a growing economy. This includes strong and independent economic and safety regulation which protects the interests of investors, taxpayers and users ^ not least, the travelling public. ORR will continue to be dedicated to this task.

Our transport and infrastructure sectors are recognised as important. But they are complex and ever-changing. They naturally undergo reviews of how their institutions work effectively. ORR welcomes the review of the longer-term future shape and financing of Network Rail and the separate review of ORR^s future role. We will make a positive contribution in helping both reviews arrive at a successful conclusion.

I have highlighted two pieces of interesting text which no doubt were very carefully written - the first of which may hint at priorities, and the second which tells us that the ORR's role and responsibilities may differ come 2017 
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
ChrisB
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 12334


View Profile Email
« Reply #6 on: December 18, 2015, 15:02:06 »

....or even may pass to a new organisation
Logged
Lee
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 7519


GBR - The Emperor's New Rail Network


View Profile WWW
« Reply #7 on: December 18, 2015, 15:26:37 »

As chairman of the ORR» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about), surely he won't have any responsibility for deciding any openings or closures?  It isn't their job, AFAICT (as far as I can tell).

Paul



It has been since the mid-2000s - I should know as I spent much of my time in those days fighting the introduction of the new closure guidance, as grahame and others will no doubt verify!
Logged

Vous devez être impitoyable, parce que ces gens sont des salauds - https://looka.com/s/78722877
paul7575
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 5316


View Profile
« Reply #8 on: December 18, 2015, 15:42:04 »

As chairman of the ORR» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about), surely he won't have any responsibility for deciding any openings or closures?  It isn't their job, AFAICT (as far as I can tell).


It has been since the mid-2000s - I should know as I spent much of my time in those days fighting the introduction of the new closure guidance, as grahame and others will no doubt verify!

I phrased that badly, what I probably meant to say is that they do not propose closures or re-openings?

Paul
Logged
Lee
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 7519


GBR - The Emperor's New Rail Network


View Profile WWW
« Reply #9 on: December 18, 2015, 15:51:18 »

That would be accurate, Paul.
Logged

Vous devez être impitoyable, parce que ces gens sont des salauds - https://looka.com/s/78722877
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40690



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #10 on: June 30, 2016, 10:48:07 »

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin reappoints Stephen Glaister as chair of the Office of Rail and Road until December 2017

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/stephen-glaister-reappointed-as-chair-of-the-orr

Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
Lee
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 7519


GBR - The Emperor's New Rail Network


View Profile WWW
« Reply #11 on: August 21, 2018, 10:44:17 »

In a development that obviously pains me greatly, Stephen Glaister is stepping down, and likely to be replaced by Declan Collier - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/orr-chair-announced-declan-collier

Unlike his soon-to-be predecessor whose Beeching-esque tendancies are well-known, Collier has recently advocated the opening/reopening of a railway station - https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-10-12/london-city-airport-chief-s-parting-plea-right-crossrail-wrong
Logged

Vous devez être impitoyable, parce que ces gens sont des salauds - https://looka.com/s/78722877
Oberon
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 186


View Profile
« Reply #12 on: August 21, 2018, 21:29:20 »

I often think things can't get any worse

Silly me...
Logged
Do you have something you would like to add to this thread, or would you like to raise a new question at the Coffee Shop? Please [register] (it is free) if you have not done so before, or login (at the top of this page) if you already have an account - we would love to read what you have to say!

You can find out more about how this forum works [here] - that will link you to a copy of the forum agreement that you can read before you join, and tell you very much more about how we operate. We are an independent forum, provided and run by customers of Great Western Railway, for customers of Great Western Railway and we welcome railway professionals as members too, in either a personal or official capacity. Views expressed in posts are not necessarily the views of the operators of the forum.

As well as posting messages onto existing threads, and starting new subjects, members can communicate with each other through personal messages if they wish. And once members have made a certain number of posts, they will automatically be admitted to the "frequent posters club", where subjects not-for-public-domain are discussed; anything from the occasional rant to meetups we may be having ...

 
Pages: [1]
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.2 | SMF © 2006-2007, Simple Machines LLC Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!
This forum is provided by customers of Great Western Railway (formerly First Great Western), and the views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that the content provided by one of our posters contravenes our posting rules (email link to report). Forum hosted by Well House Consultants

Jump to top of pageJump to Forum Home Page