[A-List] UK infrastructure crisis: railways

["Michael Keaney" <michael.keaney@xxxxxx>]

More broken rails, more delays, more signal failures - the price of £5bn
cuts

Andrew Clark, transport correspondent
Wednesday September 24, 2003
The Guardian

Rail passengers face a bleak future of decay and deterioration in the
condition of Britain's tracks, stations and bridges, according to Network
Rail, which warned yesterday that big cuts in its budget were likely to take
a heavy toll.

The government-backed company reluctantly bowed to pressure from the rail
regulator, Tom Winsor, and published a plan to scale back its spending on
the upkeep of the network by £5bn to £24.5bn over the next five years.

However, it warned that cutbacks in track maintenance and renewals would
mean shabbier stations, less reliable signals and more broken rails -
particularly on rural lines.
Unions, train operators and opposition politicians reacted with dismay to
the company's findings, which painted an unusually pessimistic picture of
progress on the national railway network.

Network Rail bosses warned that cuts to maintenance on its property
portfolio could trigger enforcement proceedings from local authorities over
the upkeep of the country's listed railway buildings.

They also warned of industrial unrest as the company delayed plans to
improve the working conditions of thousands of railway staff.

John Armitt, Network Rail's chief executive, said: "What we're saying is:
'Well OK Tom [Winsor], if that's what you want, we'll do it. But we're
pointing out that there are some down factors."

According to figures published by Network Rail yesterday, the new spending
limit will lead to 430 broken rails annually by 2006, compared to 291 under
the company's previous business plan.

Most will be on secondary and rural lines, as money is targeted to intercity
and commuter services.

The forecast number of temporary speed restrictions in 2006 is up from 417
to 662, while expected signal failures rise 11% to 38,700. By 2009, some 86
stations will need major repairs and six will have defects classified as
"unfit for purpose".

Passengers can expect an extra 600,000 minutes of delay a year - although
Network Rail insisted it will still meet its target of running nine out of
ten trains on time by 2013.
Mr Armitt said there was a risk that travellers would be deterred from using
the network because of its physical condition: "One of the turn-offs is
going to be if something's in a very poor state - if it hasn't had a coat of
paint for 15 years, as some of our bridges haven't. We would love to be able
to get at them and do the work."

Critics said Network Rail's forecasts were further evidence of poor
management of the network. Shadow transport secretary Tim Collins said:
"Once again rail passengers are paying the price for the complete collapse
of cost control at Network Rail.

"A fair deal on transport must start by getting Network Rail's finances into
shape. Britain's long suffering commuters, passengers and taxpayers deserve
better."
The RMT rail union warned that the cuts could compromise safety. General
secretary Bob Crow said: "You cannot create efficiency by replacing planned
maintenance with planned neglect.

"If the deliberate rundown of parts of the network results in a serious
accident, those responsible for the decision will have blood on their
hands."

Network Rail's spending has been under the microscope for months. Mr Winsor
is due to rule by the end of the year on how much money the company needs to
run a safe, reliable railway.

Some senior industry sources suggested the company was painting the worst
possible picture as a bargaining ploy to put pressure on Mr Winsor to
provide extra cash. One source said: "They are playing the regulatory game.
Inevitably, there is some hype in there."

Among the regional cutbacks outlined by Network Rail were savings on lines
along the Cumbrian coast, where sea defences would see lower investment. The
company said it would be carrying out "minimal" work on Leven's Viaduct,
near Kendal, which meant it would have to be closed for strengthening within
the next decade.

Maintenance reductions will also mean speed restrictions on key routes for
goods trains - including on the lines between Ely and Peterborough, Settle
and Carlisle and Grantham and Skegness.

One of Britain's biggest intercity operators expressed alarm at the plans.
Chris Green, chief executive of Virgin Trains, said: "My concern is that
rather than getting unit costs down but keeping work going, they're just
planning to stop work. It's a rather typical British stop-go attitude."