Following its own internal investigation Network Rail blamed the over-runs at Rugby and Liverpool Street largely on ”poor productivity” of agency staff and has already offered jobs to specialist engineers to help ensure future projects run smoothly.
Around 50 employees of the Kent-based firm Elec-Track Installations Ltd (ETI) ” which is in administration ” have been invited to join Network Rail. They are specialist supervisors for the installation of overhead electrical equipment, and it was the poor performance of such workers from private companies which ”tripped up” the infrastructure operator.
”We hope these key ETI employees will join our team and add another core competence to our engineering capacity,” said Network Rail group infrastructure director, Peter Henderson. ”This follows a clear strategy to bolster ” where necessary ” our capability, such as the earlier bringing in-house of maintenance and signaling design.”
A spokesman for Network Rail told ABTN it has no plans to take on further staff, but would ”keep the resources we need in review. If there is a case for us to bring other specialists in, that”s what we”ll do.”
Network Rail did not single out contractors for blame, but the spokesman said it will monitor the performance of all private companies ” ”If they are not up to scratch we”ll look to review contracts. Our strategy is to look for quality rather than price ” that pays off in the long term.”
Regarding Bechtel ” contracted to do the Rugby work on the West Coast main line ” he said: ”We”ll keep them under review. They”ve already delivered on much of what they were contracted to do and helped us deliver on enhancements which have decreased journey times between London and Glasgow.
”We”ll also be more rigorous in our approach to contractors and make sure they can deliver what they say they can. We”ll work with them more and ensure the contingencies they have in place are robust enough.”
The company”s other remedies include asking contractors to reduce reliance on agency staff, setting up ”military-style command posts for all major works” to deliver clearer lines of authority, and inviting train operators to have more involvement in projects.
Network Rail chief executive Iain Coucher said: ”We let passengers and freight users down and I”m determined that it won”t happen again. That is why we will be taking these far-reaching and decisive measures in the weeks and months ahead.”
There are more engineering works scheduled for the West Coast main line, which Virgin Trains is relying on being completed in time for its new high-frequency timetable in December.
Virgin Trains chief executive Tony Collins said: ”We have repeatedly pressed for greater involvement in major projects and we welcome Network Rail”s promise on this. It is import that attention is paid to the views of operators, who are directly accountable to the travelling public. We will work with them to ensure they do not have a repeat of the new year over-runs.”