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Tuesday 10 May 2005

MOWLEM SUSPENDED FROM TRACK RENEWALS

Region & Route:

National

Over the weekend of 8 / 9 January a renewals contractor, Mowlem, carried out track renewals work on the West Coast Main Line near Bushey (near Watford).  Following a report of a ‘rough ride’ from a train driver on the Monday (10 January) afternoon, the line was blocked and inspected.  Network Rail engineers found a small part of the new section of track that was not up to standard. The section of track had deteriorated during the day, eventually leading to the reported ‘rough ride’. Network Rail immediately rectified the fault and launched a full and detailed investigation into how the track came to be in this condition.  Mowlem was suspended from undertaking any further track renewals activity on the West Coast pending the outcome of the investigation. The investigation found weaknesses in the management and implementation of the works and made a series of recommendations. Network Rail also decided not to renew Mowlem's contract on the West Coast (which expired on 1 April). And in addition, Network Rail has suspended Mowlem from carrying out any track renewals work on its 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.