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Network Rail bosses could face grilling over Christmas chaos Network Rail bosses could face grilling over Christmas chaos
(35 minutes later)
Senior executives at Network Rail are likely to be summoned to Westminster to explain the engineering overruns that caused chaos for Christmas travellers over the weekend.Senior executives at Network Rail are likely to be summoned to Westminster to explain the engineering overruns that caused chaos for Christmas travellers over the weekend.
Louise Ellman, the Labour MP and chair of the transport select committee, said she was not happy with the company’s performance over the holiday period, which led to major disruptions at King’s Cross and Paddington stations in London.Louise Ellman, the Labour MP and chair of the transport select committee, said she was not happy with the company’s performance over the holiday period, which led to major disruptions at King’s Cross and Paddington stations in London.
She is likely to ask executives to explain the nature of the planning undertaken and whether enough senior staff had been at work to oversee the repairs.She is likely to ask executives to explain the nature of the planning undertaken and whether enough senior staff had been at work to oversee the repairs.
Ellman told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “If Network Rail decide to close part of the system down at a busy time of year, they have to be absolutely sure it’s going to work as planned and it is going to reopen as planned.”Ellman told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “If Network Rail decide to close part of the system down at a busy time of year, they have to be absolutely sure it’s going to work as planned and it is going to reopen as planned.”
But she declined to criticise Mark Carne, chief executive of Network Rail, who is poised to receive a bonus of up to £135,000 and who was on holiday during the engineering works. He employed 11,000 engineers to work across 2,000 sites over Christmas, including on the installation of 55km (34 miles) of track. He is not due back at work from his holiday home in Cornwall until Wednesday, but his break has been interrupted by angry phone calls from the transport secretary, Patrick McLoughlin.But she declined to criticise Mark Carne, chief executive of Network Rail, who is poised to receive a bonus of up to £135,000 and who was on holiday during the engineering works. He employed 11,000 engineers to work across 2,000 sites over Christmas, including on the installation of 55km (34 miles) of track. He is not due back at work from his holiday home in Cornwall until Wednesday, but his break has been interrupted by angry phone calls from the transport secretary, Patrick McLoughlin.
It has been confirmed that Robin Gisby, managing director of network operations, will not receive a £300,000 exit bonus. Network Rail said this decision was not linked to media condemnation of the Christmas engineering works, but was a pre-existing agreement due to his decision to leave the company in February.It has been confirmed that Robin Gisby, managing director of network operations, will not receive a £300,000 exit bonus. Network Rail said this decision was not linked to media condemnation of the Christmas engineering works, but was a pre-existing agreement due to his decision to leave the company in February.
Carne described the delays as regrettable: “I apologise sincerely to all those affected. We are carrying out an investigation into what went wrong. We have a complete team of project delivery staff working across the country over 300 work sites – work involving 11,000 people. I have been in contact with stakeholders such as train operating companies, the Department for Transport and the secretary of state throughout, as well as the board of Network Rail.” Carne described the delays as regrettable and said: “I apologise sincerely to all those affected. We are carrying out an investigation into what went wrong. We have a complete team of project delivery staff working across the country over 300 work sites – work involving 11,000 people. I have been in contact with stakeholders such as train operating companies, the Department for Transport and the secretary of state throughout, as well as the board of Network Rail.”
It has been alleged that part of the problem over Christmas lay in the failure of most engineering drivers, not employed by Network Rail, to turn up to work to help move essential equipment on the project north of King’s Cross.It has been alleged that part of the problem over Christmas lay in the failure of most engineering drivers, not employed by Network Rail, to turn up to work to help move essential equipment on the project north of King’s Cross.
Any decision to award Carne a bonus will be taken by the board’s remuneration committee. Previous pleas by politicians and the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) for the committee to take heed of poor performance have largely been ignored. But Ellman pointed out that with Network Rail’s debt now officially on the government’s books, it would face additional pressure this year to consider wider consequences. Any decision to award Carne a bonus will be taken by the board’s remuneration committee. Previous pleas by politicians and the ORR for the committee to take heed of poor performance have largely been ignored.
The ORR has launched an inquiry into the Christmas chaos. The regulator could, as it has previously, fine Network Rail for overrunning engineering work. However, it is feared that any fine could trigger an increase in rail fares. But Ellman pointed out that with Network Rail’s debt now officially on the government’s books, it would face additional pressure this year to consider wider consequences.
The Office of the Rail Regulator (ORR) has launched an inquiry into the Christmas chaos. The regulator could, as it has previously, fine Network Rail for overrunning engineering work. However, it is feared that any fine could trigger an increase in rail fares.
Ellman said she was writing to the ORR to ask about the scope of its inquiry and said she hoped it will include the issue of whether sufficient senior managers were on hand.