User engagement
This page provides our users and stakeholders with information about:
- our proposals about changes to our statistics;
- changes in methodology prior to publication;
- our consultations with the rail industry and other stakeholders.
We encourage feedback from users of our statistics at any time. We will actively seek feedback when we have proposals for changes, which we be clearly highlighted on this page.
Read our Statement on user engagement.
Rail statistics management group
The Rail statistics management group (RSMG) is composed of the main industry participants where we discuss possible improvements to rail statistics and research in the rail industry.
Rail statistics newsletter
- Newsletter July 2022
- Newsletter November 2021
- Newsletter July 2021
- Newsletter February 2021
- Newsletter October 2020
Data Portal: User engagement survey
Our user engagement survey is now closed but thank you to all users that took the opportunity to provide us with feedback. We have now published the results of the user engagement survey and the implementation plan, which can be found below.
- User Engagement Survey - Implementation plan
September 2020 - ORR Data Portal - User Engagement Survey Results
July 2020
Data table accessibility
In order to meet the requirements of The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations (2018) (opens in new page), we are in the process of revamping the presentation of the data tables used to support our statistical releases. These changes include:
- The addition of a Cover Sheet tab including definitions, publication dates and contact details
- The addition of a Notes tab providing users with explanatory information related to specific sections of the data tables
- Changes within the data table itself including
- presentation of time period data (e.g. Q1 = Apr to Jun, Q2 = Jul to Sep, Q3 = Oct to Dec, Q4 = Jan to Mar)
- presentation of notes e.g. [note 1] and shorthand e.g. [r] for revised data
- titles updated to include geographical coverage and time periods covered
- more descriptive column headings
These changes will continue to be rolled out as we publish updated releases.
If you have any queries on these changes, please contact rail.stats@orr.gov.uk
Improving rail data
Given the majority of our data comes from administrative systems used for operational purposes with statistical use being a secondary purpose we are currently planning a work programme to better understand the quality of the data our suppliers provide. We will work with our data suppliers and use the Office for Statistics Regulation’s standard Quality Assurance of Administrative Data (QAAD) as a toolkit to assist us with our assessment.
We use independent reporters to assess the quality of data provided by Network Rail. The quality is graded on two aspects: system reliability and data accuracy. Reports on completed assessments are published on the ORR website.
A number of other reviews have previously been commissioned by us to ensure that our data are robust and align with stakeholder requirements. These reports are below:
- Statistical outputs and ORR data portal - survey results
April 2017 - Survey on Statistical releases and Quality reports – feedback from users and implementation process
May 2015 - ORR data portal enhancements report – by Research Works
July 2013 - National rail trends portal survey - a summary of the results and key findings from the portal survey. It also includes how we are addressing the key findings from the survey.
September 2011
Analytical reports
- Passenger journeys in Great Britain - A comparison between the two published measures of passenger journeys.
March 2016 - Office of National Statistics review of rail fares index - a methodological review of the rail fares index and recommended improvements.
August 2014
Feedback
We welcome feedback. Please send an email to rail.stats@orr.gov.uk with any comments or suggestions.