Louise Ellman MP comments on ORR's review of Christmas disruption
12 February 2015
Louise Ellman, Chair of Transport Committee comments on the report setting out the Office of Rail Regulation’s findings from its investigation into rail disruption at Kings Cross and Paddington last December.
Louise Ellman, Chair of Transport Committee said:
"Network Rail must implement the Office of Rail Regulation’s recommendations in full so that passengers do not face avoidable disruption and chaos.
The scenes at Christmas were unacceptable. Bad planning, the failure of contingency arrangements and breakdown in communication resulted in thousands of people waiting for hours in the cold outside Finsbury Park station, or stuck on delayed trains.
The rail sector must work together to ensure that Network Rail’s planning and communication improves. Network Rail’s investment programme for 2014-19 means that more major and complex engineering work will need to take place. Network Rail must learn from their errors to regain the confidence of the public."