The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has today written to Network Rail expressing concerns about a backlog in examining the condition of railway structures such as bridges, tunnels and culverts.
ORR sees this as an important issue, and has warned Network Rail that if it does not complete the overall examination process at the intervals required, faults could be undetected (or detected but not assessed).
In some cases, this could lead to a safety problem. It could also result in speed restrictions being imposed in order to mitigate the safety risk, causing trains to run late.. Failure to manage the examination process could impact Network Rail's ability to efficiently plan its maintenance and renewal activities.
ORR has closely monitored Network Rail's progress to clear the backlog of structures examinations since 2021, when it first raised this issue.
Despite what the ORR calls “some pockets of good practice”, it wans that overall there has been limited progress and the backlog in some regions has increased.
ORR is also concerned that Network Rail may not be able to comply with its own new standard for structure examinations which is intended to be in place by September 2023.
ORR is dissatisfied with the limited progress. Following dialogue, Network Rail has agreed to provide ORR with robust plans with clear milestones to achieve compliance by 30 June 2023. ORR will assess these, and Network Rail will produce final plans at the end of August 2023.
ORR will then closely monitor Network Rail's delivery of the plans and will investigate overall progress at the end of the current Control Period 6 (ending April 2024)
John Larkinson, ORR Chief Executive said:”There are over 70,000 structures on the rail network, so we understand the scale of the job of inspecting these assets. Equally, we know this requires clear, robust and systematic examination plans but previous attempts to get on top of the backlog of work have failed. Network Rail has accepted the need to do better and it must now deliver against the agreed workplan to clear the backlog.”
What about embankments? There have been several slippages in the last 6 months, with at least one-Hook–(and maybe 2-3) had the potential for major injury accident (for drivers or passengers), and we have been very fortunate that there hasn’t been a major injury accident.
Also, I suspect that it is technically possible to install much more widespread automatic infrastructure monitoring (on or into all kinds of railway infrastructure). “Internet of Things”. Underground stations have had internal movement monitors (laser reflective surveying) for decades. That’s the sort of innovation the UK could develop and sell round the world, as well as creating employment of varying skill levels, well worth government investment.
Doesn’t look very good for Network Rail, when their work schedule has not been kept up over the last two years. Some things could be in a dangerous state, and they don’t know about it.
I don’t want anyone to moan about they have been out on strike. It is their job to make sure the railways are safe in the UK.
A name change will not make any difference either.