Network Rail lacks detailed knowledge of its assets and is falling behind in delivery of its civil renewals programme, according to a damning report by the Rail Regulator.

It says that the reliability of information Network Rail holds on the condition of its tracks, bridges and other assets "is not as good as it should be". Improvement has been seen, the Regulator adds, but there remains "a good deal of work ahead for the company to be as efficient as it can be."

Poor planning of maintenance is leading to poor asset performance and delays, there is a growing backlog of maintenance and too much of the work being carried out is reactive rather than preventative, the report adds.

Office of Rail Regulation chief executive Richard Price said: "The company is facing many problems of its own making, having failed to deliver plans to renew Britain's rail network, with delayed works now affecting performance. They must urgently catch up and address the problems which are causing disruption to passengers and target its work as efficiently as possible."

Network Rail chief executive Sir David Higgins (Hon Fellow) said: "We have reduced the cost of running the rail network by almost 40% since 2004, but inevitably the pace has slowed as we carefully balance the needs of the business against stretching regulatory cost cutting targets."

Photo: Matthew Black

To return to the newsletter, please close this window.