Penalties totalling £43 million on two rail industry companies in a week are not good news.
Behind the attention-grabbing headlines, and contrition from the companies, there are still some worrying questions.
Take self-certification, whether by Network Rail’s contractors of their own work, or by Great Western of its own performance. If failures of self-certification contribute to more than £40 million-worth of penalties is it the right system?
It’s also worrying that despite all of the so-called paperchains, it was not realised by Network Rail that risk assessments weren’t up to date at Liverpool Street or covering the signalling reinstatement at Shields Junction in Glasgow.
Transport secretary Ruth Kelly must be commended in her decision to require First Great Western to increase its financial investment in the business rather than paying a fine – which may or may not be used to benefit the industry.
So, while ORR is constrained on what it can do, it must – during the consultation period – consider whether fining Network Rail (with the money going into DfT funds) is the best action to recompense the industry.
But back at Ms Kelly’s department – in balancing, as it must, the interests of taxpayer and rail user, it surely must also ensure that franchise plans are workable.
Simplistic questions or cans of worms?