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Network Rail report into Christmas rail chaos finds poor planning to blame Network Rail report into Christmas rail chaos finds poor planning to blame
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Poor planning, equipment failures and communication breakdowns all contributed to the overrunning rail engineering work at Christmas which led to chaos at three London stations, a Network Rail report has said.Poor planning, equipment failures and communication breakdowns all contributed to the overrunning rail engineering work at Christmas which led to chaos at three London stations, a Network Rail report has said.
Physical work near Paddington station was completed on time but safety validation work that should have taken two hours took 10 hours, the report said.Physical work near Paddington station was completed on time but safety validation work that should have taken two hours took 10 hours, the report said.
When work near King’s Cross overran the trains were switched to start and finish at Finsbury Park station but not enough was done to manage passenger flow, meaning the station had to close for a time, according to the report.When work near King’s Cross overran the trains were switched to start and finish at Finsbury Park station but not enough was done to manage passenger flow, meaning the station had to close for a time, according to the report.
The work affecting King’s Cross was carried out by Network Rail in partnership with engineering company Amey. Work should have been completed to enable King’s Cross and Paddington to open on Saturday 27 December. But King’s Cross had to stay shut all day and Paddington only opened in the early afternoon.The work affecting King’s Cross was carried out by Network Rail in partnership with engineering company Amey. Work should have been completed to enable King’s Cross and Paddington to open on Saturday 27 December. But King’s Cross had to stay shut all day and Paddington only opened in the early afternoon.
Network Rail’s chief executive, Mark Carne, said on Monday: “A number of things went wrong in these two instances. In addition it is clear that our project backup plans and the train service plans should have done a much better job in protecting the travelling public from our engineering problems.Network Rail’s chief executive, Mark Carne, said on Monday: “A number of things went wrong in these two instances. In addition it is clear that our project backup plans and the train service plans should have done a much better job in protecting the travelling public from our engineering problems.
“Over Christmas, we undertook the biggest programme of engineering and investment work ever, on train lines across the country. 99% went to plan but in the case of King’s Cross and Paddington we let passengers down. I sincerely apologise for the disruption over the festive period and we are determined to learn the lessons so that we can continue to make the improvements the travelling public deserve.”“Over Christmas, we undertook the biggest programme of engineering and investment work ever, on train lines across the country. 99% went to plan but in the case of King’s Cross and Paddington we let passengers down. I sincerely apologise for the disruption over the festive period and we are determined to learn the lessons so that we can continue to make the improvements the travelling public deserve.”
Anthony Smith, chief executive of the rail customer watchdog Passenger Focus, said: “On the basis of this report and the events on the day the industry has a long way to go to restore trust in how it handles these events.”Anthony Smith, chief executive of the rail customer watchdog Passenger Focus, said: “On the basis of this report and the events on the day the industry has a long way to go to restore trust in how it handles these events.”
Smith added: “There was no reliable Plan B at King’s Cross, so Finsbury Park was pressed into action. At Paddington confusion reigned. Overall few staff were around, information was patchy at best and no one seemed in overall control. Passengers and government are pouring billions into the railways – they deserve better than this.”Smith added: “There was no reliable Plan B at King’s Cross, so Finsbury Park was pressed into action. At Paddington confusion reigned. Overall few staff were around, information was patchy at best and no one seemed in overall control. Passengers and government are pouring billions into the railways – they deserve better than this.”
Monday’s report said there was a succession of equipment failures which stalled progress, with insufficient contingency in the project plan to ensure the work would finish in time for services to run on 27 December. There were delays in putting together a recovery plan with the train companies, the report added.Monday’s report said there was a succession of equipment failures which stalled progress, with insufficient contingency in the project plan to ensure the work would finish in time for services to run on 27 December. There were delays in putting together a recovery plan with the train companies, the report added.
It also said there were mutual failings in the communications between Network Rail and Govia Thameslink Railway, which manages Finsbury Park station, around the implementation of the contingency plan.It also said there were mutual failings in the communications between Network Rail and Govia Thameslink Railway, which manages Finsbury Park station, around the implementation of the contingency plan.
Network Rail said that by 10.30am on 27 December Finsbury Park had become so crowded that passengers on arriving trains were not able to alight. The station was shut for about 30 minutes with some passengers having to queue outside for two to three hours, the report said.Network Rail said that by 10.30am on 27 December Finsbury Park had become so crowded that passengers on arriving trains were not able to alight. The station was shut for about 30 minutes with some passengers having to queue outside for two to three hours, the report said.
The work affecting Paddington was carried out at Old Oak Common in north-west London by signalling framework suppliers Signalling Solutions Ltd. The report said the 3.30am 27 December completion of the physical work on this project should have allowed for a 7am start of services at Paddington given the paperwork checks and testing verifications would have been expected to be completed in one to two hours. But this work was not finished until 1.14pm.The work affecting Paddington was carried out at Old Oak Common in north-west London by signalling framework suppliers Signalling Solutions Ltd. The report said the 3.30am 27 December completion of the physical work on this project should have allowed for a 7am start of services at Paddington given the paperwork checks and testing verifications would have been expected to be completed in one to two hours. But this work was not finished until 1.14pm.
On the paperwork delay, the report said: “A lack of warning that this work was delayed and frequent changes to the forecast completion time made it difficult to plan an effective train service.”On the paperwork delay, the report said: “A lack of warning that this work was delayed and frequent changes to the forecast completion time made it difficult to plan an effective train service.”
It added that several thousand passengers using Paddington on 27 December were affected by cancelled and severely delayed services. The report said Network Rail was taking action to ensure there was no repeat of the failings.It added that several thousand passengers using Paddington on 27 December were affected by cancelled and severely delayed services. The report said Network Rail was taking action to ensure there was no repeat of the failings.
The ensuing row led to Carne’s announcement that he would not be taking his 2014/15 annual bonus.The ensuing row led to Carne’s announcement that he would not be taking his 2014/15 annual bonus.
In a foreword to the report, Carne said: “In very complex projects sometimes simple things go wrong and these can snowball in short periods of time to become major issues. Our contingency plans should address these issues and protect passengers from our problems as far as possible. And our industry service recovery plans should minimise the impact of any disruption once it has occurred. On these occasions we simply did not do these things well enough.”In a foreword to the report, Carne said: “In very complex projects sometimes simple things go wrong and these can snowball in short periods of time to become major issues. Our contingency plans should address these issues and protect passengers from our problems as far as possible. And our industry service recovery plans should minimise the impact of any disruption once it has occurred. On these occasions we simply did not do these things well enough.”
A second review of the failings is being carried out by rail industry body the Rail Delivery Group. Carne said one thing that was being looked at was possibly moving big engineering projects away from the Christmas period.A second review of the failings is being carried out by rail industry body the Rail Delivery Group. Carne said one thing that was being looked at was possibly moving big engineering projects away from the Christmas period.