The Office of Rail Regulation gives Network Rail a thumbs-up for better safety and punctuality in its fifth annual survey of operating, maintaining, renewing and developing the mainline rail network to March 2008.

However, customers were less satisfied than in 2006. The company breached obligations four times, with two fines. ORR and Network Rail differ about budget for the five-years to start in April. The scale of efficiencies is at issue.