Pressure on Network Rail to handover running tracks

Jun 4 2008 by Ben Schofield, Liverpool Daily Post

PRESSURE was mounting on Network Rail (NR) last night to give up control of tracks in the Merseyrail network.

The region’s transport bosses have lobbied for control of the lines for years, claiming it would boost performance and efficiency.

And yesterday rail watchdog, the office for rail regulation, hit out at NR for shooting down the Merseytravel scheme when it was first mooted two years ago.

The Liverpool Daily Post also understands the region’s public transport bosses are heaping political pressure on the track operator in an effort to convince it to relinquish control.

Bill Emery, chief executive of the office for rail regulation (ORR), also criticised the national body for doggedly guarding its monopoly and hinted its days overseeing Britain’s rail infrastructure could be numbered.

Merseytravel first suggested they should run their own tracks in early 2006 but the suggestion was thrown out by NR. Merseytravel said if they ran the tracks there would be a boost in performance and efficiency.

Yesterday NR said they should be given recognition for the part they play in keeping the region’s trains running on time.

On the rejection of Merseytravel’s scheme, Mr Emery said: “It would have tested whether working closely together as a vertically integrated piece of railway [ie Merseytravel running the trains and the tracks] would lead to a better performance and lower costs.”

Mr Emery said at least one rival infrastructure company was needed to gauge NR’s performance.

Cllr Mark Dowd, chairman of Merseytravel, welcomed Mr Emery’s comments.

He said: “The Government and the rail regulator understand our argument that closer integration of trains and tracks could be the best way forward for Merseyside.

“I just do not see why Network Rail cannot understand the logic of our argument.”

A former train driver, Cllr Dowd added he remained “bitterly disappointed” with Network Rail on a number of issues, one of which is the months of delays to refurbishments at Bootle Oriel Road, St Helens and Sandhills.

Merseytravel was the first transport authority in the country to take over responsibility for appointing its own train operating company, a job formally done by the Strategic Rail Authority. In 2003 it granted a 25-year concession to Serco/Nedrail to run Merseyrail but with various options to cancel the project if the company performed poorly.

Network Rail spokesman Keith Lumley said: “Merseyrail is one of the best performing train operators in the country and has recently reported that for the four weeks ending 24 May, 97% of its trains ran on time. In making the announcement, Bart Schmeink, Merseyrail’s managing director is quoted as saying ‘Our Network Rail colleagues, who are responsible for the tracks and signalling, have played a major role in getting us to these levels.’

“We are not going to be complacent and will continue to work with Merseyrail and other organisations to push for even better figures.

“There is no justifiable reason for making any changes to a system working well and consistently delivering good performance. We genuinely believe there is nothing to be gained by transferring our responsibilities for Merseyside’s railways to another organisation.”

Jacqui Lloyd, head of commercial litigation at Liverpool-based law firm Brabners Chaffe Street and a specialist in rail industry issues, last night said: “The performance of Network Rail over the last few years has been unacceptable.

“Merseytravel is one of the only passenger transport executives which has a discrete network, meaning it directly manages its own train operating contract.

“As a result, there is a strong argument to suggest that it would be much more efficient – both in terms of cost and time – if they were also responsible for maintenance of the tracks.”

High speed rail lines needed to North to South and help boost economy run to Birmingham only.

Lib-Dem spokesman Norman Baker said: "We’re turning into cattle truck Britain, with rail services overcrowded.”

The Lib-Dem strategy picks out priority lines for electrification, including Liverpool-Manchester (via Chat Moss) and Bidston-Wrexham.

“Neglected links” to be opened, or upgraded, includes the Burscough Curves (Southport-Ormskirk) and a new Southport-Wigan-Ormskirk-Preston Link.

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