A multi-million fine imposed on Network Rail following chaos on the trains has been branded "a scandal".
Over-running engineering works caused the prolonged closure of London Liverpool Street at the New Year, causing major disruption for Essex commuters.
The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has ordered that the £14 million fine, announced in February, must be paid by Network Rail despite the company offering to plough the same sum in to improving the railways.
advertisement
Derek Monnery, chair of Essex Rail Users' Federation, said the fine was "verging on immoral".
"I think it's a scandal," he said. "I do not blame the regulator for fining Network Rail because it was a shambles, but the money should have stayed within the industry."
Iain Coucher, Network Rail chief executive, said that the company, which owns and maintains the rail infrastructure, said it was "disappointed" but "accepted" the fine.
"We had suggested that this sum be invested in the rail network to fund improvements," he said.
"Since the problems at New Year, the company has made significant changes to the way we plan and carry out big improvement work."
Bill Emery, chief executive of ORR, said Network Rail's proposal had been considered "very carefully".
"We remain convinced that the systemic weaknesses we have found in Network Rail's approach are a serious and continuing breach of its licence meriting a financial penalty," he said.
They should be made to plought 14 million back into the railway infrastructure AND pay a fine of 14million. Afterall they are supposed to be spending whatever it costs to repair the lines.
They should be made to plought 14 million back into the railway infrastructure AND pay a fine of 14million. Afterall they are supposed to be spending whatever it costs to repair the lines.
So who'll pay in the end....the passengers, Network Rail will increase fee's to rail operators, and the only way they will make any money is to pass it on the the passengers, NOT RIGHT. NEtwork Rail should not receive mony from the Operators, which could mean no fare increases on the most expensive rail service in Europe!
So who'll pay in the end....the passengers, Network Rail will increase fee's to rail operators, and the only way they will make any money is to pass it on the the passengers, NOT RIGHT. NEtwork Rail should not receive mony from the Operators, which could mean no fare increases on the most expensive rail service in Europe!
Posted by: Mark, Colchester on 12:28pm Mon 12 May 08
Fining rail companies is not the answer as they will just pass the costs straight on to the passengers. Instead, the regulatory bodies should have the power to remove top level executives from their positions.
Fining rail companies is not the answer as they will just pass the costs straight on to the passengers. Instead, the regulatory bodies should have the power to remove top level executives from their positions.
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
Print
Email this
Comment
