NR could become 'more risk-averse'

摘要

Responding on August 14 to ORR's proposal to fine Network Rail £2·4m over delays to the Portsmouth resignalling scheme, NR Chief Executive lain Coucher warned 'it is likely that ORR's conclusions in respect of Portsmouth will force Network Rail to become more risk-averse as we seek to avoid the possibility of licence breach'. Coucher added 'we question whether this is the right way forward for an industry that faces considerable challenges'. On September 6, ORR Chief Executive Bill Emery responded firmly to what was effectively a threat to slow resignalling projects (p7) through a more conservative approach which would also increase costs. He told Coucher 'the breach and our decision to impose a penalty are about failure to identify and assess risk properly and to mitigate its effect, and not about the level of risk you assume'. According to Emery, ORR sees this as 'a very important distinction'. He added '1 would like to discuss this with you'. Signalling industry insiders report that NR has already become more risk-averse on current projects. This is showing up in the reduced amount of work being programmed for each possession, reducing efficiency on site and extending commissioning. Both of these have cost implications.