2001-01-15 Periodic Review and Hatfield (Office of the Rail Regulator)

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date 21 October 1999
source Office of the Rail Regulator
type Press release

note ORR/99/44

Results of the most recent assessment of the rail industry for Year 2000 compliance show that the rail network will be ready and available for service over the Millennium period. These latest findings, issued by the Regulator at the National Infrastructure Forum on Thursday 21 October, show that the industry’s business continuity readiness status will be 100% ‘blue’ by the end of October according to the Government’s Action 2000 ‘traffic light’ rating. This rating indicates that the industry will have completed its compliance programme for critical and cross-industry systems and will have independently verified contingency plans in place.

The latest assessment, carried out by the Rail Millennium Programme Office and reviewed by the Office of the Rail Regulator, follows the earlier independent review by WS Atkins Management Consultants carried out between March and May this year. At that stage business continuity was rated 70% ‘blue’ and the latest 100% ‘blue’ status represents substantial progress and a satisfactory conclusion of the work outstanding from that review.

Rail safety critical systems are rated at 100% ‘blue’ by the Health and Safety Executive’s HM Railway Inspectorate (HMRI) indicating no risk of material disruption (see Notes to Editors).

Results of the assessment process also confirm that the individual train operators, Railtrack and the industry body responsible for ticketing and settlement systems, Rail Settlement Plan (RSP), are all rated 100% ‘blue’.

Progress to the 100% ‘blue’ status confirms the predicted timescales from the disclosure in July. At that stage the main areas of risk outstanding were in supplier verification and the completion of continuity plans. Work in both areas has now been concluded, however the continuity plans are treated as ‘live’ documents and will continue to be reviewed and updated to cater for any changes in circumstances.

The monitoring of the industry will be maintained up to and over the Millennium period and the Regulator will continue to receive reports as part of the agreed process for ongoing review on compliance progress with the industry body, the Rail Millennium Programme Office.



Notes to Editors:

Enforcement and monitoring of compliance with health and safety regulations is a matter for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) In December 1998 HSE’s HM Railway Inspectorate issued an initial report on the railway safety critical systems and Y2K problems. The main conclusion was that the potential threat to the safety of passengers and staff is judged to be low because very few systems use computers or programmable devices in safety role. HMRI is continuing to review the Millennium safety of railways.

Railhub Archive ::: 1999-10-21 ORR-001