Rail regulator says late running engineering works after New Year holidays were unacceptable

Network Rail has been fined a record £14 million by the rail regulator for the late running of engineering works.

The most serious of these were at Rugby and Liverpool Street Station and Shields Junction earlier this year. Network Rail has already warned of further weekend closures to catch up on work that is running behind schedule.

According to the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) the size of the fine was to reflect the serious nature of the breach, the impact it had already had on passengers and rail freight users and the need for the company to take urgent action to improve its approach.

It is quite clear from our thorough investigation that Network Rail is failing to manage major engineering work as consistently well as it should.

Bill Emery, ORR chief executive

I addition, the ORR has ordered Network Rail to provide a clear plan of how it intends to complete the upgrade of the West Coast Main Line, which is currently due to be completed this December.

Bill Emery, ORR chief executive said. “What happened over the New Year was totally unacceptable for passengers and freight customers, and to the train companies. It is quite clear from our thorough investigation that Network Rail is failing to manage major engineering work as consistently well as it should. This is due particularly to weaknesses in the company’s planning, risk assessment and site management of projects as well as to failures of communication within the company and with train operators”.