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Safety fears as Network Rail cuts track work to save cash
Dick Murray23.01.09
Fears over more late and cancelled trains escalated today as Network Rail announced it is cutting back on the amount of worn out track it replaces in order to save cash.
The company has told its four contractors which renew the rail lines that it will reduce the amount of tracks it replaces “significantly” next year.
This will mean much track and points replacement being “pushed back” for several years.
NR confirmed it is facing “tough efficiency targets” following demands by the controlling Office of Rail Regulation that it cuts costs. Not-for-profit NR, which looks after the national infrastructure had planned to spend
£29.1 billion over the next five years.
Rail spending is divided into five year periods, the next sector lasting from this year until 2014. Spending plans were cut back by the regulator to £26.7 billion last October — £2.4 billion under what NR considers essential.
Gerry Doherty, general secretary of the TSSA transport union, said: “Lack of cash must not be allowed to reduce safety. Passengers will have every right to be worried at this announcement that NR plans to delay track work.”
A spokesman for Network Rail, which replaced disgraced Railtrack, confirmed that replacing track is “too expensive.”
He said “We have tough efficiency targets to meet, mandated by the Office of Rail Regulation ...We are deferring work in 2009/2010 to subsequent years when cheaper and more efficient ways of doing track renewals with new high-output equipment comes on stream.”
He said there is “absolutely no question” that worn our track and other equipment would not be replaced.
Reader views (5)
I just paid 6% more for my season ticket this year, like I did last year and the year before. Each year I am told, like others, that this is to pay for all the railway projects and improvements needed to restore the railway to its former glory.
Now, it seems the money is going to be cut back! This will mean cuts in services, staff no doubt losing their jobs, and possibly increased dangers (I'd hope Network Rail isn't really THAT stupid to risk lives and huge fines for the sake of a quick profit).
Can I ask for my 6% back now that they don't need it anymore?
- Jonathan Morris, Hatfield, Herts, UK
How much do the train operators put towards rail upkeep? I know my fares went up this week.
All along the unions were saying safety would be compromised if the railways were privatised - but oh no the government of the day couldn't see beyond the next cheque.
- Andy, London
That just about sums this government up we are in recession they say spend more on infrastructure and get people off the road ORR cut the subsidy to NR and they put work back this will probably put Jarvis into administration they employ 4000 people can you believe what is happening, just behond believe.
- S Turner, england
This is exactly the wrong sort of thing to allow to happen at the start of a recession. The government should find a way to fund more, not less, spending on the infrastructure that will be needed to support economic recovery when it comes. Paying for infrastructure now means that we will get better value from contractors who will be desperate for the work, and it will also help keep unemployment down (thereby saving benefits payments).
President Obama is wasting no time in setting up a program to repair and enhance the USA's infrastructure. The UK should do likewise.
- Nigel, London
It just shows that the Government has absolutely no interest in the nation's network. Travelling by train in Britain is becoming an ordeal, and this must be putting off potential visitors to the country, cutting job opportunities and giving the recession a kick start.
- Mark Wright, Milan, Italy
