11.07.14
MPs criticise Network Rail’s accountability record – DeltaRail poll
Network Rail is failing to provide adequate accountability to passengers and Parliament, according to a DeltaRail commissioned ComRes poll, which surveyed 155 cross-part MPs.
The Derby-based railway technology company, which recently vented its anger about not being given the chance to develop a prototype traffic management system for Network Rail despite having a system that can be implemented now, found that 66% of respondents said that Network Rail was poor at providing accountability to passengers.
More than two-fifths also stated that Network Rail was poor at providing accountability to Parliament. The respondents also criticised the company on its use of finances, with58% of MPs saying that Network Rail’s performance in securing value for money was poor. A further 63% think that rail procurement is dominated by a small number of large international providers.
Anna Matthews, CEO of DeltaRail, said: “These findings demonstrate that NR is still failing to operate at the standards expected of other publicly-funded organisations and is showing contempt for the UK taxpayer.
“Instead of habitually handing out contracts to a small group of favoured foreign providers, it should buy British with tried and tested local companies and support our high-tech economy.”
Network Rail spokesperson Kevin Groves told RTM: “The same survey also says that 60% of MPs think Network Rail has performed well or very well over the last five years and an incredible 91% believe that the UK rail network is crucial to driving the UK's sustained economic recovery.
“Network Rail is under tremendous scrutiny and has to justify every pound it spends and its daily performance to a very rigorous regulator which employs some 300 people solely to ensure Network Rail does exactly that.”
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