Firm suspended for track blunder

Billions are being spent updating the West Coast mainline

An engineering firm has been suspended from renewal work on the railways after failing to install track properly.

Mowlem left off clips used to secure the track to sleepers on the West Coast Main line, near Watford, Hertfordshire

Network Rail decided not to extend Mowlem's £4m contract for the line and has now suspended it from upgrade works across the rest of the network.

Mowlem said that safety was not put at risk by the January incident and that it had revised its procedures.

'Weaknesses found'

Trains travelled on the track for several hours before the fault was noticed on 10 January, when a train driver reported a "rough ride".

It is good news that Network Rail is getting to grips with standards but they should follow their own logic and bring renewals work back in-house Bob Crow, RMT

Track renewal work had been carried out the weekend before by Mowlem.

Network Rail said its engineers had found that a small part of the new section of track was not up to standard and had launched an investigation.

"The investigation found weaknesses in the management and implementation of the works and made a series of recommendations," NR said.

It said Mowlem would be suspended from any renewal work on the rail network "until such time as it can demonstrate that it has implemented the improvements needed in its management and working practices relating to track renewals".

Mowlem's work on the West Coast line is being carried out by other companies involved in the multi-billion pound upgrade of the route.

Improvements under way

In a statement Mowlem said: "The West Coast Main Line contract, valued at approximately £4m, expired on 31st March and it has not been renewed with Mowlem.

"Network Rail's investigation identified a few shortcomings and Mowlem has implemented a number of actions and revised procedures as a result of these findings."

It said that Network Rail had been told of the improvements.

The firm added: "Track renewals work represents less than 5% of Mowlem's UK rail business and a fraction of the work we carry out for Network Rail."

Bob Crow, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union, said: "It is good news that Network Rail is getting to grips with standards but they should follow their own logic and bring renewals work back in-house."