A Railworker and to offer Railtrack even more government subOutlook has sidy? Railtrack, responsible for chronicled the gradual colrail maintenance, have tried lapse of the railways over the last five years. We warned to claim Inal Ine current problems are caused by new hetore privalisa lon that heavier freight traffic, safety would be compromised. In recent issues we unsuitable new passenger have highlighted how bad rolling stock, long term inings had become. And under inveer back to British Rail days - dating once again events have conanything but their own misspired to prove that we were management. It won't wash! right:
June tragic accident for the broken It is clear that the reason rail which Hatfield has caused the vircaused the Hatfield crash is tual collapse of the railway Rail workers directly related to manageSVSLCu. users cannot remember dis- ment decisions made by Railtrack - made for one reafor such an TUDLOR extended period at such a son: to save money to give high level. Across the coun- away In shareholder divitry emergency speed restric- dends.
Firstly, Railtrack took the tons pur in place to proleci trains from the threat of bro- decision to cut back on rail replacement. Rails are now ken rails have meant permanent and utter chaos for all expected to for sixty services. The private owners years - double what it was of the rail network have under BR and nearly three longer than the shown they cannot be unes European standard. trusted with passengers lives Secondly, Railtrack was not - so why is the Labour government so silent - why has prepared to maintain the track itself - it delegated this Blair's only response been back Gerald Corbett, to private contractors. But instead of putting in place Railtrack's chief executive a rigorous chain of contract managers it decided that the contractors would have to manage themselves. Having signed up to an agreed contract price it was up to the contractor inspect the track, find needed repair and then do the work. An effective incentive was built it - to do less and less maintenance.
Thirdly, despite frequent health and safety breaches by these contractors (rail mainLenaIce companies like Balfour Beatty are among the country's worst serial criminals when it comes to breaksalely law) Railtrack has boxed itself into a corner. It is so dependent on just a handful of multinational companies that it cannot afford to challenge their contracts - to do so would cause even greater chaos.
So on Hatfield Railtrack won't ask Balfour Beatty the track too closely. If they do report any potential problem it won't listen. No order for remedial work will be issued. See no problem, hear problem, do no repairs - four