Media centre

Monday 26 Jul 2004

OVER 700 MAINTENANCE WORKERS COME ‘IN-HOUSE’ TO NETWORK RAIL

Region & Route:

| Southern

Network Rail took direct control of maintenance of the infrastructure in the Sussex area from contractor AMEC on Saturday 24 July.  The transfer forms the final piece of the maintenance jigsaw, with 100% of the national rail network now under the direct control of Network Rail.  This continues Network Rail’s strategy of unifying the operation and maintenance of the railway. Andrew Munden, Network Rail’s Route Director for Sussex said: “Rail maintenance is a central part of Network Rail’s operation. Unifying maintenance and the operation of the railway under one roof will bring many benefits and help to deliver a better railway for the passenger. “The management and staff of AMEC have been very professional and without their help this major organisational change could not have happened as quickly or as smoothly as it has. “We are delighted to welcome our new colleagues to Network Rail.” The Sussex area is part of Network Rail’s South East territory and covers routes out of London Victoria, London Bridge and Blackfriars stations to the Sussex coast at Eastbourne, Brighton, and Littlehampton. Creating a single integrated rail maintenance operation will deliver three key benefits: ·        Consistent application of high standards of rail maintenance across the area ·        Significant efficiency savings to be delivered from the annual maintenance budget ·        Continued improvement in track-side safety standards - more - Maintenance - 2 This move forms part of Network Rail’s key strategic decision to bring rail maintenance in-house, the most fundamental restructuring of Britain’s railway since British Rail was reorganised in 1994, two years before privatisation. The transfer is the culmination of months of planning and preparation and ensures that maintenance is carried out by a permanent workforce of well-trained individuals committed to a strong safety culture. The new employees are an experienced and skilled workforce and include managerial and clerical staff, signalling technicians, track workers, overhead line technicians and fixed plant technicians.