Sir Andrew Haines, CEO of Network Rail - merged historic posts, for continuity / clarity

[whole diary]

[ellendune]

Don't forget that famous quote about NR^» (Network Rail - home page): "An organisation entirely staffed by BULLSH*TTERS and ACCOUNTANTS".  (Personally, I exclude from that analysis those who work at the coalface, such as ET of this forum).

It is not that they are only staffed by such people, but that this is the only message their masters at ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about), DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) and, above all the Treasury, want to hear, so that is the only message NR can give. "Just agree you can meet these impossible 'efficiency savings' that we dreamt up without any knowledge of how to run a railway then you can get on with the job" is what they are being asked what do they say? If they say no then no doubt the Treasury will start to talk about closures again - but none that are on lines they commute to work so London and the South East would be fine.  It is those 'little used' lines in 'the Provinces' they would be talking about.     

[Electric train]

....mmm.  I'll reserve judgement for the moment.  Having worked for NR^» (Network Rail - home page) for 7 years in the past, I really think he needs to get a grip on the current culture in the organisation (one that neglects its basic remit to maintain the railway and instead likes to focus on the 'shiny new things')

Is this some of the stuff you mean / a good start? ... from Rail Technology Magazine

The new chief executive of Network Rail Andrew Haines has told MPs^▸ (Member of Parliament) he will put “passenger’s interests front and centre” following “seven sustained years of decline in performance.”

[snip]
“So, my commitment is to make sure passengers’ interests are front and centre of Network Rails’ agenda for every single one of our employees.”

Having dealt with him in a past life in a TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)/RT relationship I trust him to mean what he says.  Trouble is that the culture in NR has been entirely 'self centred' for the past 10 years or more, so its going to take a lot of sustained effort to achieve the goal he has set.  Don't forget that famous quote about NR: "An organisation entirely staffed by BULLSH*TTERS and ACCOUNTANTS".  (Personally, I exclude from that analysis those who work at the coalface, such as ET of this forum).

Thank you ………………. errrrr I think 

NR does have the capacity, the ability and indeed the desire to change.  The evolution of NR was at first to hide itself from the headlines because of RT and to quietly get on investing and improving the infrastructure, progressively it has built the confidence not only in its self but also with many of the TOCs on a day to day coalface level and even at RMD and TOC MD level; NR just suffers from the press and politicians, NR own banana skins its able to manage but the press and politicians keep throwing their in to.

NR will change, it will be a different beast by the end of CP6^▸ (Control Period 6 - The five year period between 2019 and 2024)

[Lee]

NR^» (Network Rail - home page) will change, it will be a different beast by the end of CP6^▸ (Control Period 6 - The five year period between 2019 and 2024)

Indeed - Depending on who wins the next General Election, it will either have been reclassified as the entirely private Network Railtrack, or absorbed into Corbyn's new BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)).

[Lee]

Andrew Haines shows his mettle in this article.

With his backing for rail reopenings, a “welcoming” and “reliable” railway that minimises disruption and encourages travel, developing leisure traffic, and facilitating an "end to end service", he acheives that most rare of things, a conference speech by a Network Rail executive that I find difficult to disagree with.

Has Haines finally found his "Burning Platform for Change" ?

[ChrisB]

From Oxford Mail

The CEO^▸ (Chief Executive Officer) of Network Rail has received a knighthood in the annual New Year Honours list.

Andrew Haines OBE, 60, the chief executive of Network Rail, received a knighthood for his services to the transport sector and the economy.

Sir Andrew lives in Wantage and is in charge of the government’s transition team which will take the rail industry from a privatised model to one which is publicly run.

Before joining Network Rail in 2018 he headed up the Civil Aviation Authority for nine years.

He has also led the Great British Railways Transition Team which aims to improve and simplify train travel for passengers.

article continues....