New rules for rail passenger info
Rail companies have been told that they must not water down vital principles in their code of practice relating to passenger information.
Train operators have until March 1 to comply with new regulations governing the provision of travel information for passengers otherwise they face referral to the Competition Commission. The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) said that train companies have not been serving the best interests of customers in delaying the agreement over information obligations.
The ORR issued a March deadline after train companies appealed for more time to prepare for the new information requirements as part of their licensing conditions. The ORR also criticised the train operators, saying that agreement could have been reached much sooner.
Richard Price, chief executive of ORR, said he was disappointed that train companies did not agree that the current code of practice on passenger information was fit for purpose. The current code of practice is used as a measuring stick against which compliance with the new licence conditions is determined.
Copyright Press Association 2012



