Rail and Road Pod

On this, the second episode focusing on heritage railways, the Rail and Road Pod visits Aln Valley Railway in Northumberland to continue the discussion on how ORR and the heritage sector are collaborating to maximise safety.

Once again, host Kenny Walker, is joined in conversation by Ian Skinner, Office of Rail and Road’s Head of Non-Mainline and lead for Heritage Railway safety; Steve Oates, chief executive of the Heritage Railway Association; and Michael Proctor, chairman of Aln Valley Railway in Northumberland.

The Pod is taken on a tour of Aln Valley to look at some of the recent safety improvements made and taken on a ride of one of the railway's Pacer services. The Pod also talks to members of Aln Valley staff on how the help of ORR has delivered better safety for its operations.

For more information on how the Office of Rail and Road regulates the health and safety of heritage railways visit: https://www.orr.gov.uk/about/who-we-work-with/railway-networks/minor-heritage-railways 

To learn more about the Heritage Railway Association visit: https://www.hra.uk.com/ 

To plan a visit to Aln Valley Railway, see: https://www.alnvalleyrailway.co.uk/  

In this episode, the Rail and Road Pod looks at how the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) holds Network Rail to account for its performance and efficiency.
 
 The podcast takes an in-depth look at some of the key findings from the rail regulator's recently published Annual Assessment of Network Rail.
 
 Three of ORR’s Senior Regulation Managers join the Pod to talk about what went well in each of Network Rail's regions as well as discussing some areas where improvement is needed. 
 
 For more information on how ORR holds Network Rail to account visit: https://www.orr.gov.uk/monitoring-regulation/rail/networks/network-rail/holding-network-rail-account 
 
 For more information and to read ORR's 2020-21 Annual Assessment, visit: https://www.orr.gov.uk/monitoring-regulation/rail/networks/network-rail/monitoring-performance/annual-assessment-network-rail

In this episode, the Rail and Road Pod visits the Rail Live exhibition at the ‎Quinton Rail Technology Centre in Warwickshire.

The event, over two days, brings the entire rail industry together in a real railway environment.

Over the two days, we spoke to Rail Live's Managing Editor, Nigel Harris, who discussed planning for the 2021 event and also with a number of rail industry professionals on topics such as electrification, track worker safety and the role of the rail regulator in a reformed railway.

There's also the unveiling of the GB RailFreight locomotive named Major John Poyntz, who was the final Royal Engineer to be an HM Inspecting Officer of Railways. We spoke to those who shared memories of Major John Poyntz.

In this, the first of a two-part episode, the Rail and Road Pod hears about how heritage railways are safely returning for passengers and how one particular railway has delivered improvements over the last year.

To discuss, the Pod is joined by Ian Skinner, Office of Rail and Road’s Head of Non-Mainline and lead for Heritage Railway safety; Steve Oates, chief executive of the Heritage Railway Association; and Michael Proctor, chairman of Aln Valley Railway in Northumberland.

Across Britain, there are more than 200 heritage railways. These are 'lines of local interest', museum railways or tourist railways that preserve, recreate or simulate railways of the past; or demonstrate or operate historical or special types of motive power or rolling stock.

For more information on how the Office of Rail and Road regulates the health and safety of heritage railways visit: https://www.orr.gov.uk/about/who-we-work-with/railway-networks/minor-heritage-railways 

To learn more about the Heritage Railway Association visit: https://www.hra.uk.com/ 

To plan a visit to Aln Valley Railway, see: https://www.alnvalleyrailway.co.uk/  

Highways England maintains, renews, operates and improves the strategic road network – the motorways and main 'A' roads in England.  

The Office of Rail and Road is responsible for monitoring and enforcing the performance and efficiency of Highways England, and holds the company to account for its management of the strategic road network. 

In this episode of the Rail and Road Pod, we find out more about how Highways England are monitored and how that delivers benefits to road users.  We're joined by Feras Alshaker, deputy director for roads and Stephen Bussell, senior highways economist from ORR to explain more. 

We're also joined by Guy Dangerfield, head of strategy at Transport Focus, who delves into how it gathers insights from road users to help Highways England deliver improvements.

For more information on how the Office of Rail and Road monitors Highways England's roads visit www.orr.gov.uk/monitoring-regulation/road/highways-england 

For more information on Transport Focus' Strategic Road User Survey visit www.transportfocus.org.uk/insight/strategic-roads-user-survey/ 

The official Office of Rail and Road podcast brings together a series of conversations to discuss issues impacting all aspects of Britain's railways and England's road network.

 On this episode ORR’s Deputy Director for Access and International, Martin Jones and Head of Access and Licensing, Gareth Clancy, discuss how decisions are made about what fits where on Britain’s railway; the balancing act between passenger and freight services and what happens when disagreements arise. 

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On this episode of the Rail and Road Pod we're discussing the important issue of mental health and finding out more about the rail industry's long standing partnership with the Samaritans. Host, Kenny Walker, is joined by Jason Alexandre, a trainer with the Samaritans gives his insight into Brew Monday’s events and some of the work they're currently involved in. We’re also joined by Ian Prosser, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Railways at the Office of Rail and Road, to discuss the rail industry's Million Hour Challenge.  Paul Johnson from Network Rail, a listening volunteer shares why he volunteers for Samaritans.
 
 Whatever you’re going through, Samaritans volunteers are available to listen without judgement, 24 hours a day 365 days a year. Call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or you can email [email protected] and visit www.samaritans.org.   

For more information on Samaritans’ Brew Monday, visit www.samaritans.org/brewmonday.
For more information on the Million Hour Challenge, visit www.millionhourchallenge.com.

Scope’s Executive Director, James Taylor and the Office of Rail and Road’s Deputy Director of Consumers, Stephanie Tobyn join the Rail and Road podcast for the very first episode. James and Stephanie discuss accessibility on the railways, the issues people face and the work being done to help people travel with confidence.  Music from Bensound.com