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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Network Rail fined £2m for delays | Network Rail fined £2m for delays |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Network Rail has been fined £2m by the rail regulator over train delays and cancellations in 2014-15. | Network Rail has been fined £2m by the rail regulator over train delays and cancellations in 2014-15. |
| The delays were mainly at London Bridge station, but also in Scotland. | The delays were mainly at London Bridge station, but also in Scotland. |
| Network Rail's performance on Southern, on Govia Thameslink (GTR) and in Scotland was "below expectations and missed punctuality targets", the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) said. | Network Rail's performance on Southern, on Govia Thameslink (GTR) and in Scotland was "below expectations and missed punctuality targets", the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) said. |
| Network Rail has apologised to passengers for "disruption and frustration". | Network Rail has apologised to passengers for "disruption and frustration". |
| However, it said it had invested more than £11m to "improve performance for Southern and Thameslink passengers" since the start of 2015. | However, it said it had invested more than £11m to "improve performance for Southern and Thameslink passengers" since the start of 2015. |
| Phil Hufton, managing director of network operations at Network Rail, said: "At London Bridge we are undertaking the biggest and most complex station and track redevelopment ever attempted on Britain's railways - while simultaneously continuing to keep services running." | Phil Hufton, managing director of network operations at Network Rail, said: "At London Bridge we are undertaking the biggest and most complex station and track redevelopment ever attempted on Britain's railways - while simultaneously continuing to keep services running." |
| Commuter chaos | Commuter chaos |
| Commuters using London Bridge began to face delays in January due to rebuilding work as part of the government-sponsored £6.5bn Thameslink Programme. | Commuters using London Bridge began to face delays in January due to rebuilding work as part of the government-sponsored £6.5bn Thameslink Programme. |
| In March, there were chaotic scenes at London Bridge, which rail union RMT described as "life-threatening", as passengers jumped barriers to avoid crushes on the concourse. | In March, there were chaotic scenes at London Bridge, which rail union RMT described as "life-threatening", as passengers jumped barriers to avoid crushes on the concourse. |
| The regulator said that Network Rail had failed to liaise properly with operators to understand the extent of the disruption, and had also used flawed data to compile timetables. | The regulator said that Network Rail had failed to liaise properly with operators to understand the extent of the disruption, and had also used flawed data to compile timetables. |
| It said Network Rail had "significantly underestimated the impact of the Thameslink programme on performance, which was further exacerbated by a timetable that was not robust". | It said Network Rail had "significantly underestimated the impact of the Thameslink programme on performance, which was further exacerbated by a timetable that was not robust". |
| ORR chief executive Richard Price said: "The scale of the delays suffered by passengers was central to our decision to fine." | ORR chief executive Richard Price said: "The scale of the delays suffered by passengers was central to our decision to fine." |
| "The penalty sends a clear message to the Network Rail board: Network Rail must urgently rectify these errors and deliver the reliability of services that passengers have paid for," he added. | "The penalty sends a clear message to the Network Rail board: Network Rail must urgently rectify these errors and deliver the reliability of services that passengers have paid for," he added. |
| Errors in timetabling in Scotland were not picked up due to quality assurance issues there, ORR said. | |
| The fine either has to be paid to the Treasury, or instead, the £2m will have to be used to improve customer services beyond what is normally expected, a spokeswoman for the ORR said. | The fine either has to be paid to the Treasury, or instead, the £2m will have to be used to improve customer services beyond what is normally expected, a spokeswoman for the ORR said. |
| Job losses? | Job losses? |
| The Rail, Maritime and Transport union said the Network Rail fine was "a ludicrous way to run a railway" as it was "effectively the taxpayer fining themselves". Network Rail is a public-sector body. | The Rail, Maritime and Transport union said the Network Rail fine was "a ludicrous way to run a railway" as it was "effectively the taxpayer fining themselves". Network Rail is a public-sector body. |
| RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "The fines will have to be paid for by axing works or cutting staff, creating a vicious cycle of decline that is self-defeating and will just mean more fines and more cuts in the future, which is a nonsense." | RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "The fines will have to be paid for by axing works or cutting staff, creating a vicious cycle of decline that is self-defeating and will just mean more fines and more cuts in the future, which is a nonsense." |
| He added that "fragmentation and a proliferation of contractors and agencies on our tracks... are compromising infrastructure projects". | He added that "fragmentation and a proliferation of contractors and agencies on our tracks... are compromising infrastructure projects". |
| A Network Rail spokesman said that it was too early to speculate as to whether the fine would lead to job losses. | A Network Rail spokesman said that it was too early to speculate as to whether the fine would lead to job losses. |
| The public sector body has already had to halt some rail improvement works, however. | The public sector body has already had to halt some rail improvement works, however. |
| In June a £500m project to electrify the Midland Mainline was "paused" by the government. | In June a £500m project to electrify the Midland Mainline was "paused" by the government. |