Passengers reassured on rail safety

“We take any allegations about safety extremely seriously. But we do not believe the BBC’s investigation has uncovered any risks to train or passenger safety.

“This was a serious subject treated in a sensationalist manner. We maintain the railway to ensure it is safe and fit for purpose.

“Every inch of track is subjected to a frequent, demanding inspection regime, which is supplemented with inspections by the very latest track reading and monitoring equipment..

“While a stretch of track might not be visually perfect to the untrained eye, it can still be safe.”

Responding to allegations about employee conduct, John Armitt said:

“These are extremely serious allegations, and we only became aware of all the details upon viewing the programme this evening. We are continuing to investigate them and will review the programme content in detail before taking any necessary disciplinary action.

“We remain confident that the vast majority of our employees, are committed railway men and women who have safety at the heart of all the work they do in rebuilding Britain’s railway.”

The BBC had not permitted anyone at Network Rail to see any “evidence” or footage in advance of the broadcast on BBC1 tonight.

The broadcast of the programme was the first time anyone at Network Rail had viewed the footage.

The BBC put some written allegations to the company on 15 October, to which Network Rail gave a robust response on 26 October. (The details of these are in the notes to Editors section.)

The company also provided the BBC with a written statement (which is also available in the Notes to Editors section).

John Armitt concluded:

“I’d like to reassure all passengers that we put safety at the forefront of everything we do. The track highlighted in this programme was never unsafe, and has been checked and double-checked by qualified, experienced track engineers and been declared fit for purpose.

“It is disappointing that this misinformed and misleading programme could unnecessarily dent public confidence in the railway, which has been growing following two years of substantial progress by Network Rail and our industry partners.”

Notes to Editors

1. The statement given to the BBC by Network Rail, prior to broadcast:

"We recognise that this programme could alarm viewers. We treat such allegations seriously. “On the basis of the information provided, we have confidence that the track is safe and that train and passenger safety has not been compromised.

“We wish to state in the clearest possible terms that safety of the railway and its operations is our highest priority."

Network Rail’s response to all the information and allegations put to it by the BBC prior to broadcast:

ALLEGATION	RESPONSE
1. When Danny Penman arrived in the depot after training, he was paid to do nothing for two days because his PTS card had not come through.	The journalist finished his training course on Monday afternoon, his Sentinel card was sent out Tuesday and arrived on the Wednesday. This small delay is insignificant when ensuring the safety of our people and the railway as a whole
2. The work was so disorganised that his crew only worked on average for half of every eight-hour shift.	Rail maintenance is undertaken at night to avoid closing lines during the day and disrupting passengers. We take possession of the track, often in remote locations, for just a few hours. The whole process is similar to setting up a mobile factory each night. This inevitably reduces the amount of time available to work.
3. One of his Controllers of Site Safety (COSS), failed to give him proper safety briefings.	All safety briefings require the team to sign a document to say they have received a briefing and have understood its content thus allowing an opportunity for questions or clarification. We can produce numerous examples (at least 15) that demonstrate the reporter signed to say he had received these briefings. Network Rail also operates a “work safe” procedure which empowers any individual to stop work if they are unhappy with the safety arrangements.
4. One of the lines on which the clips were missing/defective was the down line of the Farnborough to Wanborough line. A stretch of 22 sleepers where the rail was secured by just one clip. The reporter contacted CIRAS and explained his concerns. Several weeks later he went back to check and nothing had been done about the clips, so he contacted CIRAS again to arrange a site visit.	Within just a few hours of the report qualified and experienced staff immediately attended the site and confirmed that the issues raised did not present a safety risk and that trains should continue to run as normal. A few weeks later the reporter was met on site by an experienced track engineer who explained that the conditions were safe and within the allowable tolerance of the engineering standards. There was no need to apply an emergency speed restriction on the site or for emergency repairs to be carried out. The ‘proud’ clips were reported and again hammered back into place, as part of the weekly track patrol.
5. On 6 May a Ganymede ganger who had been in the pub during the afternoon and most of the evening had drunk so much that his speech was slurred.	This is an extremely serious allegation that we are continuing to investigate. We have a very strict alcohol and drugs policy in place and undertake frequent, unannounced random drugs and alcohol testing. Positive tests or refusal to take a test results in dismissal. If we find any evidence to support your allegation, then in line with the above policies, swift and immediate disciplinary action would follow.
6.  On 12 May a reporters temporary track induction card had run out but he was still asked to work. He should not have been allowed on the track yet he was.	The journalists were trained and competent to carry out the duties that were asked of them. Their permanent certification was being processed and their managers and supervisors were aware of the technical matter of their temporary cards having elapsed. A simple card extension phone call was made at the time that put the ‘paper-work’ back in order.
7. In Scotland we interviewed a track inspector who was then employed by you but who has since left the industry. He told us how much of the track in Scotland is now inspected at night from a Land Rover. The track inspector says this is inherently less safe than inspecting a track on foot during the day.	Using Land Rover road / rail vehicles (RRV) is a long established (since the 90s), effective, safe method of inspection – approved by the Health and Safety Executive. The primary inspection method is the track measurement system, supplemented by the Land Rover-based inspections and regular foot patrolling.
8. An ex-track inspector has expressed particular concerns about the track on the Forth Rail Bridge, which he believes is in extremely poor condition. We have been on the bridge on two occasions and examined the state of the track. Bolts which hold the longitudinal sleepers to the bridge are loose. Some of the wooden wedges are so loose that it is possible to simply pick some out by hand.	The allegations of your ‘inspector’ are wrong. The track on the Forth bridge is safe and in a satisfactory condition. There is a rigorous four-tiered inspection regime for this unique structure: 1.A close examination of every foot of track by competent and qualified railway people is carried out every week 2. Every eight weeks a track supervisor makes a more detailed visual inspection 3. A measurement train crosses the bridge every three months recording track condition 4. Once a year, an engineering assessment is made of the bridge The reports we have of the track quality and condition on the bridge taken over the last year by both visual an mechanised methods prove conclusively that it is fit for purpose. Loose ‘J’ bolts and wooden wedges are factors that are taken into account at each inspection and recording run.

2. Network Rail is the 'not for dividend' owner and operator of Britain's railway infrastructure, which includes the tracks, signals, tunnels, bridges, viaducts, level crossings and stations – the largest of which we also manage

3. We are working to rebuild Britain’s railway and provide a safe, reliable and efficient rail infrastructure for freight and passenger trains to use

4. Our website: www.networkrail.co.uk/>