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Notes to editors

Notes to editors: Highlights of the Christmas and New Year engineering work: - The most intensive programme of engineering work in living memory - Almost £125m of work delivered - Over 1,000 pieces of work - Of these, 35 were major schemes - 35 km of track was renewed - 77 sets of points were replaced - Over 20,000 rail engineers worked 1.2m man hours over the holiday period - Three overruns – Rugby, Liverpool Street and Shields Junction, near Glasgow Network Rail started an investigation into the causes of the New Year overruns at Rugby and London Liverpool Street station a week ago. Part of this investigation involved a series of meetings with all the relevant contractors. The investigation has looked at the root causes for the over-runs and what action should be. An investigation into the over-run at Shields Junction continues. Rugby investigation highlights: - Part of the biggest signalling renewal in six years - The work planned to be done was deliverable with the resources allocated however: - Poor productivity from overhead line workers (80% of whom were agency staff) meant the project slipped - Poor manpower supervision and management on-site added to the problems - Other big overhead line projects taking place over the holiday meant that there was not the usual pool of external manpower to draw upon - Resources were brought in from Network Rail's maintenance organisation to complete the project Liverpool Street investigation highlights: - The work planned to be done was deliverable with the resources allocated however: - Poor productivity from overhead line workers (again, 80% were agency staff) meant the project slipped - Poor manpower supervision and management on-site added to the problems - Other big overhead line projects taking place over the holiday meant that there wasn't the usual pool of extra manpower to draw upon - Outstanding pieces of work were not properly identified by the contractor and time to finish these 'snagging' items was not built into the work plan Network Rail's members: Network Rail is a company limited by guarantee; it is a private sector organisation operating as a commercial business and with a Plc-style Board of Directors. It has Members, not shareholders. The Network Rail members fulfil the role of shareholders, but do not receive dividends or have equity interest, as Network Rail is a not-for-dividend company, and any profit is re-invested in improving Britain’s rail infrastructure. Members do not receive payment for their services, but are afforded reasonable expenses for the execution of their duties. Members do not get involved in operational or management decisions, but they play a crucial role in the company’s corporate governance having statutory rights and duties.