MPs question Network Rail and ORR on railway disruption over Christmas
31 December 2014
Transport Committee holds evidence session on the disruption to the rail service caused by over-running engineering work. MPs question Network rail and the Office of Rail Regulation.
- Parliament TV: Railway disruption
- Inquiry: Railway network disruption over Christmas
- Transport Committee
Witnesses
Wednesday 14 January 2015, room TBC
At 2.05pm
- Mark Carne, Chief Executive, Network Rail
- Robin Gisby, Managing Director, Network Operations, Network Rail
2.50pm
- Richard Price, Chief Executive, Office of Rail Regulation
- Joanna Whittington, Director, Railway Markets and Economics, Office of Rail Regulation
At 16.04 - Chair of the Transport Committee, Louise Ellman MP:
"I am deeply concerned about the impact the over-running of the engineering work at King’s Cross and Paddington had on passengers. Today I am calling Network Rail’s Chief Executive and Managing Director of Network Operations to appear before the Transport Committee next week, to account for the disruption and failures in contingency planning."
At 17.55 - Chair's comment:
"Earlier today, I announced that the Transport Select Committee would take evidence from Mark Carne and Robin Gisby on the over-running engineering works at Kings Cross and Paddington and their impact on services and passengers. Following representations from Network Rail, I have agreed to Network Rail’s request to postpone the session until Wednesday 14 January. This will allow my Committee to hold an evidence session informed by the work that Mark Carne has commissioned from Dr Francis Paonessa.
Dr Paonessa’s report on the sequence of events and associated decision making that led to the problems experienced at Kings Cross and Paddington will be completed on 9 January. In responding to our questions I expect Network Rail to explain what went wrong and account for what happened. It is vital that the rail industry delivers a safe, high quality and efficient service to passengers. It is also vital that the public has confidence in the industry. Passengers deserve a detailed explanation of the causes of disruption, the steps that need to be taken to prevent recurrence and the lessons that need to be learned."