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Topic: Network Rail Asks For Extra West Coast Main Line Track Closures (Read 3821 times)
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Lee
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Network Rail is nearly two weeks behind schedule on work to the West Coast Main Line due to be finished by December, the BBC has learned (link below.) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7267658.stm It is asking train companies for extra track closures for 13 weekends in the summer, on top of those planned for Easter and bank holidays. The rail infrastructure company has rejected putting completion of £750m worth of work back to May 2009. It comes as Network Rail faces a record fine of up to £15m for late work. The December 2008 deadline for finishing the West Coast rebuild has been in Network Rail's diary for years. The operations of 12 train companies depend on the project, including Virgin which is planning to launch a major marketing campaign in November to sell the faster journey times it will allow. Network Rail's chief executive Iain Coucher told the BBC work in the Rugby area was 315 hours behind schedule. Crucial sections of the line are already scheduled to be shut down during Easter and bank holidays (link below.) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7267596.stmCoaches will ferry passengers between Northampton and Birmingham International on Good Friday, 21 March. From Saturday to Easter Monday no Virgin or London Midland trains will run from London to Milton Keynes, Northampton, Coventry or Birmingham. Services on Tuesday 25 March will be diverted at Rugby and journeys to the north of England and Scotland will take longer. Normal services will not be restored until Wednesday 26 March. |
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Lee
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It comes as Network Rail faces a record fine of up to £15m for late work.
Network Rail has been fined a record £14 million following serious engineering work overruns at the New Year (links below.) http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/02/record_14m_fine_for_network_ra.html#morehttp://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/02/network_rail_fine_pointless_an.html#moreThe fine was imposed by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) which had been investigating the overruns, the most serious of which was on the West Coast Main Line. The ORR decision comes on the day that NR chairman Sir Ian McAllister, who stayed at home during the overrun crisis saying he would only get in the way if he went into work, is officially knighted at Buckingham Palace. The ORR has also ordered Network Rail to provide a clear plan of how it intends to complete the upgrade of the West Coast Main Line (link below.) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7267658.stmYet given that Network Rail is now back in the public sector, a fact admitted apparently by mistake by no less than three government ministers over the years, what is the point of transferring money from one public body to another? |
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« Last Edit: February 28, 2008, 11:30:42 PM by Lee »
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Lee
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« Last Edit: February 29, 2008, 12:06:23 AM by Lee »
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Lee
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Virgin Trains has branded Network Rail's West Coast Main Line engineering plan "unworkable" (link below.) http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/mar/26/travelleisure.transportIn response to Network Rail's plans, Virgin Trains urged the ORR to consider pushing back the completion date to May next year. It said the further delay would allow time for driver training, an issue that is one its biggest objections to Network Rail's favoured plan. "Further work should be urgently carried out to establish the detail of this option," said Virgin Trains. A spokesman added that the plan was "unworkable". The train operator added, however, that a May deadline would breach its franchise agreement with the government. Network Rail warned in its ORR submission that postponing the upgrade would result in other work being delayed, including projects on the East Anglia line and in Glasgow. "Delaying delivery until 2009 would require other works currently planned for 2009 to be deferred, leading to probable delays due to resource limitations," said Network Rail. The ORR is expected to deliver its verdict next month. |
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Lee
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Rail regulators have accepted a revised plan for completing the £8.6bn upgrade of the West Coast Mainline (link below.) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7380617.stmOperator Network Rail will now press ahead with weekend closures throughout the summer to modernise the London to Scotland route by December. But the Office of Rail Regulation warned NR it must make every effort to minimise disruption to passengers. Anthony Smith, chief executive of watchdog Passenger Focus, said he believed pressing ahead with all the the work this year was "the best outcome under the circumstances". He said alternative rail services should be provided wherever possible rather than relying on replacement bus services. Passenger Focus is also calling for train operators to compensate passengers who are forced to use replacement buses. |
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Lee
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A rail worker has been killed while working on the West Coast Mainline in Warwickshire (link below.) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/7505258.stmNetwork Rail said the worker, employed by contractor Leda Rail, was fatally injured early on Saturday, just south of Rugby station. Details of the accident have not been released but Network Rail said it was investigating. |
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Industry Insider
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Good to see the two stock words of 'chaos' and 'misery' being trawled out when there's an article on engineering work or strike action. You'll never fail to see one of them being used. Come on journalists, what about giving 'disorder, confusion, bedlam, agony, commotion, disarray, turmoil, depair, distress, or agony' a fair hearing in your articles!  |
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Lee
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« Last Edit: August 23, 2008, 12:02:06 PM by Lee »
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