Bridge collapse provokes spat

Botched work on a bridge at London's Liverpool Street station, which caused a train accident and a 14-hour delay to train services, has prompted a spat between Network Rail (NR) and Transport for London (TfL).

The accident took place at 7.30pm on Wednesday evening when one of the jacks lifting the 1,800-tonne steel bridge into place gave way, causing the bridge to drop 200mm, and debris oto fall onto the track. The bridge was then hit by a train, forcing 300 passengers to walk along the track to find a station.

NR has banned client TfL, and its contractors - a Balfour Beatty and Carillion consortium - from carrying out further work on the project pending a safety review, prompted by 'concern over TfL's handling and management of both the project and its contractors.' The move means work on the bridge will remain suspended for a least another fortnight.

Construction Sources told Contract Journal that concerns seem to centre on why the work signed off by NR failed to materialise on the ground. NR will also seek compensation from TfL. Building magazine, meanwhile, said the investigation is understood to be focused on human error and equipment failure rather than any faults in the engineering. NR will also seek compensation from TfL which could run into tens of thousands of pounds.