18.03.15
Network Rail board under fire as ‘high-level effectiveness review’ continues
The DfT is still ‘confident’ in Network Rail, despite a ‘high level board effectiveness’ review being carried out by the government’s Shareholder Executive.
Unconfirmed reports have claimed that the roles of Network Rail’s chief executive, Mark Carne, and chair, Richard Parry-Jones, are coming under scrutiny by the Shareholder Executive after concerns were raised about the company’s management, especially in light of the overrunning engineering work at Christmas.
It was revealed in Network Rail’s January board meeting minutes that Mark Russell of the Shareholder Executive, which oversees the government’s interests in businesses backed by the state, was to undertake a high level board effectiveness review.
“This would include a recommendation on the matter of whether a special director would be appointed to the board,” it says.
The ORR’s investigation found that the overruns near King’s Cross and Paddington affected more than 115,000 passengers in some way by the disruption. And while there were examples of good service from individual members of staff, the overall service passengers received was “not acceptable” and led to “widespread confusion, frustration, disruption, discomfort and anxiety”.
In January, Mark Carne, chief executive of Network Rail, said: “A number of things went wrong in these two instances. In addition it is clear that our project back-up plans and the train service plans should have done a much better job in protecting the travelling public from our engineering problems.
He added that he “sincerely apologised” for the disruption over the festive period, and that Network Rail is determined to learn lessons from the failings at Christmas.
The DfT, however, said it was still ‘confident’ in Network Rail. But a spokesman confirmed that a review of Network Rail’s board, including the option of appointing a special director, has been conducted by the Shareholder Executive.
“It is for the Secretary of State to consider whether any steps should be taken in light of its findings,” he said.
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