McNulty Report on the UK rail network published

[whole diary]

[Electric train]

It is good to see he highlighted the excessive pay levels of directors.

[ChrisB]

In comparison with other commercial companies with similar bottom lines / turnover?

[Glovidge]

What other European countries run a privatised rail network? ergo is this why the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) rail system is the most expensive?

[ChrisB]

The wage cost would still be pretty much the same.

[gaf71]

'The overall trend to reduce continually the length of the working day and the working week is
unsustainable, and the industry needs to negotiate changes to terms of employment that currently
limit flexibility and productivity.'

The above is a quote from the report, which i find interesting, as the ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) is currently looking at a 'fatigue index' with regards to staff and passenger safety. I wonder if the fatigue issue will suddenly be brushed under the carpet?

[Super Guard]

The above is a quote from the report, which i find interesting, as the ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) is currently looking at a 'fatigue index' with regards to staff and passenger safety. I wonder if the fatigue issue will suddenly be brushed under the carpet?

Probably...

Anna Walker, Chair of the Office of Rail Regulation:

"As co-sponsor of Sir Roy McNulty^s study we welcome and strongly endorse his findings. Today^s report has brought into sharp focus the value for money challenge facing the whole rail industry and the size of the prize it must deliver for taxpayers and passengers.
"One of the keys to unlocking this prize is to strengthen the incentives on all the players to work collaboratively to improve services for customers and reduce costs. This includes clarifying the boundary between government and the industry which has become blurred in the current structure.
"It is vital that all industry players grasp this opportunity and quickly set out how they are going to rise to the challenge. For our part, we relish the opportunity to demonstrate how strong, independent regulation can help the whole rail industry to deliver the step change required. In doing so, we will build on our track record of ensuring the delivery of improved efficiency and performance by Network Rail.
"Later this month we launch the next price control review. This process will lead to a delivery plan for our railways through to the end of this decade. We will continue to urge and incentivise leaders across the rail industry to seize the early opportunity this presents to set out how, together, they will deliver a successful railway for passengers and taxpayers at a significantly lower cost."

http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.10402

[Electric train]

'The overall trend to reduce continually the length of the working day and the working week is
unsustainable, and the industry needs to negotiate changes to terms of employment that currently
limit flexibility and productivity.'

The above is a quote from the report, which i find interesting, as the ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) is currently looking at a 'fatigue index' with regards to staff and passenger safety. I wonder if the fatigue issue will suddenly be brushed under the carpet?

Yes ................. that is until a Clapham and then the question will be asked why are staff working 16 hour shifts 7 days a week with a day off occasionally ..................

and yes there are employers in the industry (mainly contractors) that will allow this and there are staff that will work the hours

[BandHcommuter]

In comparison with other commercial companies with similar bottom lines / turnover?

I think the bottom line/turnover argument (and comparisons with other commercial organisations) follows a red herring. Train operating companies are managing a service contract, their income is virtually guaranteed, most of their costs are regulated (or non-discretionary), and they share revenue risk with the government. Operationally they comply with a rulebook and a set of licence conditions. There are many experienced and talented operations managers in the industry who are quite willing and capable of running the service, as they did in the days of British Rail. Is there really a need for a board of directors for each operator? The wider commercial concerns of the owning groups can surely be managed centrally.

[gaf71]

'The overall trend to reduce continually the length of the working day and the working week is
unsustainable, and the industry needs to negotiate changes to terms of employment that currently
limit flexibility and productivity.'

The above is a quote from the report, which i find interesting, as the ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) is currently looking at a 'fatigue index' with regards to staff and passenger safety. I wonder if the fatigue issue will suddenly be brushed under the carpet?

Yes ................. that is until a Clapham and then the question will be asked why are staff working 16 hour shifts 7 days a week with a day off occasionally ..................

and yes there are employers in the industry (mainly contractors) that will allow this and there are staff that will work the hours

My thoughts exactly. As those of us know that work in the rail industry, 'hidden' is a recommendation and not law, if the working week and hours worked in a day are gradually increased, to save money in the long term, how long before we get another 'Clapham'? I bet we get another incident within 10 years.

[Electric train]

'The overall trend to reduce continually the length of the working day and the working week is
unsustainable, and the industry needs to negotiate changes to terms of employment that currently
limit flexibility and productivity.'

The above is a quote from the report, which i find interesting, as the ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) is currently looking at a 'fatigue index' with regards to staff and passenger safety. I wonder if the fatigue issue will suddenly be brushed under the carpet?

Yes ................. that is until a Clapham and then the question will be asked why are staff working 16 hour shifts 7 days a week with a day off occasionally ..................

and yes there are employers in the industry (mainly contractors) that will allow this and there are staff that will work the hours

My thoughts exactly. As those of us know that work in the rail industry, 'hidden' is a recommendation and not law, if the working week and hours worked in a day are gradually increased, to save money in the long term, how long before we get another 'Clapham'? I bet we get another incident within 10 years.

Much of Anthony Hidden QC recommendations are in ROGS.  The current statutory regulations are not fully covered by McNulty for instance all heavy maintenance such as track renewals have to comply with the CDM^▸ (Construction (Design & Management) Regulations) Regs, station design and equipment for DOO^▸ (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard)) costs money.

[SandTEngineer]

and yes there are employers in the industry (mainly contractors) that will allow this and there are staff that will work the hours

I don't know where your coming from here but as one of those employed by a 'contractor' you should note that we have to abide by the law just as NR^» (Network Rail - home page) staff have to (after all NR lay down the rules for all that work on the railway infrastructure).

Being an ex-BR^▸ (British Rail(ways))/RT/NR employee and having worked for several contractors in a 45 year career I think your comment is a bit biased

We need to shake up a infrastructure owner that has become very complacent, takes all the glory when it goes right and little blame when it doesn't and has let costs spiral totally out of control.

Let's privatise the lot but have very careful controls in place to ensure it stays safe.

[Electric train]

and yes there are employers in the industry (mainly contractors) that will allow this and there are staff that will work the hours

I don't know where your coming from here but as one of those employed by a 'contractor' you should note that we have to abide by the law just as NR^» (Network Rail - home page) staff have to (after all NR lay down the rules for all that work on the railway infrastructure).
Being an ex-BR^▸ (British Rail(ways))/RT/NR employee and having worked for several contractors in a 45 year career I think your comment is a bit biased
We need to shake up a infrastructure owner that has become very complacent, takes all the glory when it goes right and little blame when it doesn't and has let costs spiral totally out of control.
Let's privatise the lot but have very careful controls in place to ensure it stays safe.

Before working for NR I worked for 3 railway contractors (before that BR) and yes you are correct they do abide by the rules but what I meant there are employers that would allow excessive hours if they were not monitored.  NR have many horrendous processes that are just not sustainable and need to be eradicated but to go back to the RT model of lots of private companies could see another Potters Bar or Hatfield. 

[SandTEngineer]

Before working for NR^» (Network Rail - home page) I worked for 3 railway contractors (before that BR^▸ (British Rail(ways))) and yes you are correct they do abide by the rules but what I meant there are employers that would allow excessive hours if they were not monitored.  NR have many horrendous processes that are just not sustainable and need to be eradicated but to go back to the RT model of lots of private companies could see another Potters Bar or Hatfield. 

On what basis is NR the one qualified to do this. Now let me think, who was it that was recently exposed for a cover up concerning RIDDOR accident reporting..............

I vote for a reconstituted and much larger HMRI^▸ (Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate) with experienced staff seconded from the existing railway industry (put my name down )

[woody]

What other European countries run a privatised rail network? ergo is this why the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) rail system is the most expensive?

Quote from McNulty review summary review 2.3.4 ^Differences in performance gains between Great Britain and these European examples may result from differences in the approach taken to franchising. While Great Britain has franchised all services, franchising in Europe has tended to focus largely on subsidised regional services, with main-line services continuing to be operated by the former state monopoly.^                                                                                                                                             The former Inter-city sector of BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) should have been carried foreward into rail privatisation with its inherently much lower operating costs.But we are where we are between a rock and a hard place.

[The SprinterMeister]

If the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) are to remain in service beyond 2020 then they will need to have disabled access and so if automatic doors are installed would you still need a guard?  You would need to have a member of staff on board I would think as there is no direct access to the passengers from the power car but would this member of staff have to be a guard?

I very much doubt that anyone is going to stump up the cash to convert HST's to power operated doors (and a form of Passcom which doesnt apply the brakes) at this stage in their lives so they will continue to be crew operated until they are withdrawn.