On Thu, 29 May 2008 10:40:38 -0700 (PDT), Mizter T
wrote:


Network Rail released this strongly worded statement late this
afternoon:

NETWORK RAIL SEEKS URGENT ANSWERS FROM TfL FOLLOWING LIVERPOOL STREET
BRIDGE FIASCO

Thursday 29 May 2008 16:45

Network Rail's Chief Executive today wrote to Transport for London's
Commissioner Peter Hendy to seek urgent answers about the severe
disruption caused to tens of thousands of passengers as a result of
the failure of TfL infrastructure outside Liverpool Street station on
the evening of Wednesday 28th May.

At about 1915 last night a concrete slab fell from a TfL bridge that
had been erected over the May Day bank holiday as part of TfL's
ongoing project to extend the East London line. Services were stopped
as a result of the incident and it wasn't until 0930 this morning that
TfL gave the 'all clear' and services were allowed to re-start.

Because of concerns over TfL's handling and management of both the
project and its contractors, Network Rail has banned work on the
bridge, effective immediately. This will remain in place until TfL has
completed an investigation and reported back on the causes of the
incident and what measures it will be putting in place to prevent a
repetition.

Commenting on the incident, Network Rail's Director of Operations and
Customer Service, Robin Gisby, said: "Passengers rightly want an
explanation, as do I. Passengers deserve an apology for the disruption
they suffered last night and this morning and I want assurances that
such an incident can't and won't happen again."

While I am not at all surprised that top level communication has
occurred as a result of this incident I do find the tone of Network
Rail's "outrage" and their "banning" to be tinged with a large splash of
hypocrisy given the almighty cockups that they have inflicted on the
travelling public.

A more measured press release might have kept things in perspective.

--
Paul C