28.08.15
Network Rail questions capability of its route bosses
One of the “biggest challenges” in trying to boost the performance of Network Rail’s operations is having route managing directors (RMDs) and route finance directors (RFDs) with the right capabilities.
The company’s board raised the issue at its last meeting, questioning the “strength of the senior management teams” and the need to support Phil Hufton, appointed MD of network operations in January, in his “efforts to turn performance around”.
Following the presentation of a finance report to the board by Patrick Butcher, which re-iterated that network operations is not hitting its targets, it was noted that the “biggest challenges” were in the routes, with certain (unnamed) RMDs and RFDs needing “further support and training to build adequate capability”.
Additionally, Network Rail’s board said that the talent pipeline for feeding these positions was a “key area for concern”.
Mark Carne, Network Rail’s under-fire CEO, said that the company’s HR director, Ian Iceton, would produce a “development plan” for these key roles, which would be brought to the September board meeting.
Recently, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) fined Network Rail £2m for breaching its licence over its poor performance on Southern, Govia Thameslink (GTR) and in Scotland in 2014-15. Following an investigation into the infrastructure owner, the regulator said that performance on these three passenger routes were “below expectations” and “missed punctuality targets” in 2014-15.
Prior to the fine, the ORR also stated that weaknesses in Network Rail’s project development and delivery are “systemic” and the infrastructure owner may be in breach of its licence as regards the delivery of its enhancement programmes.
The regulator’s director of railway planning and performance, Alan Price, said preliminary findings suggest Network Rail “may not have done, and is not doing, everything reasonably practicable to comply with condition 1 of its network licence in relation to the delivery of its enhancements programme”.
(Top image:c.Jonathan Brady. Body image: Network Rail's routes)