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The Rail Regulator, John Swift QC, welcomed the publication today by Rail express systems Ltd (Res) of its Code of Practice for the operation of charter train services on behalf of charter promoters. The Code was produced in response to the proposals outlined in the Regulator's consultation document on charter train services published in December, 1995*.
The Code covers the main areas on which the Regulator received complaints from charter promoters and others and which prompted his review of charter operations. These include: the pricing of charter trains and the need for Res to estimate efficiently the resources required for a charter train; the need for a dialogue with customers to increase understanding of resource estimates; compensation where Res has failed to provide the service package it was contracted to provide; confirmation of timings sufficiently in advance of the planned service to enable the promoter to provide a reasonable customer service and processes for dealing effectively with operational difficulties on the day.
Mr Swift said " The Code is a welcome step which recognises the importance of the charter market and the need to provide a stable framework which will allow it to develop in the future. It addresses many of the concerns which I identified in my review. I will be watching carefully to make sure that Res fulfils its obligations as outlined in the Code."
* Charter Train Services - A Consultation Document, December 1995
