Tracks company facing a fine over timetable problems

Network Rail faces a fine following "avoidable" timetable problems which left some train companies unable to publish journey information or take reservations.

The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR), which will decide on a possible fine next month, said NR had been in breach of its licence following difficulties introducing a new train timetable planning system.

The introduction of the new integrated train planning system (ITPS) this summer should have made it easier for NR to provide timetable information to train and freight companies. The ORR said: "However, system faults left some operators temporarily unable to publish information or take bookings and reservations."

The report also highlighted that the Scottish east coast main line had been suffering from poor performance during summer due to a number of separate factors - including cable thefts and signal failures - though it noted they were not the sole responsibility of either of the operator East Coast or NR.

Responding to the timetable problems, NR said that "lessons had been learned".