Will this latest ‘action’ from the ORR actually result in any changes to Network Rail’s performance?

Requiring the company to put ‘robust plans’ in place for next year’s target does not seem to be a very harsh punishment for failure to reach targets set for punctuality on both freight and long-distance passenger services, as well as a lack of effort to attempt to reach them.

Of course, there is no possible way Network Rail could reverse the damage done in time to see improvements for this year, but the simple message of ‘try harder’ seems to be one which is already well-worn.

The consequences of previous warnings have not resulted in any change; instead performance has continued to fall. Does this mean that this will persist into 2012/13, or will this declaration of contract breach be enough to motivate a positive difference in punctuality?

Stopping the decline of train performance will be hard enough, without the added challenge of involving Network Rail into providing a concerted effort to improve.