http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/new...acceptable.php

quote
TfL: 'Tramtrack's performance unacceptable'
By Dan Menhinnitt

The company which operates Croydon's trams could be removed if the
Mayor of London's transport body has its way.
A spokesman for Transport for London told the BBC it was looking at
ways to remove Tramtrack Croydon Limited and take more direct control
of the tram network following a safety report.
The report, compiled by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB)
following a derailment close to Phipps Bridge on May 26 last year,
found Croydon Tramtrack had a poor relationship with First Tram
Operations Ltd which manages its drivers and controllers.
According to the report, the poor relationship had the potential to
affect safety on the network.
But Tramtrack said it did not understand how the accident investigator
had come to this conclusion.
"It is unclear where RAIB's view of a poor relationship has come from
or quite how they have assessed that this results in a safety risk.
"There have been a few disagreements between TCL and TOL on the
details of how to implement some changes. That is to be expected; what
is important is that they should result in a healthy debate in
reaching an agreed solution."
The TfL spokesman said: "Tramtrack Croydon's performance is completely
unacceptable.
"We are examining all options that would allow TfL to remove Tramtrack
Croydon and take more direct control, to bring levels of investment,
maintenance and safety up to TfL's high standards."
Tramtrack said the company was performing in line with its contract
requirements and that all the recommendations from the report had been
implemented or were well on the way to completion when the matter was
raised by the mayor in January.
None of the 180 passengers on board the tram were injured in the
derailment.
3:49pm Friday 10th August 2007
unquote

The report, compiled by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB)
following a derailment close to Phipps Bridge on May 26 last year,
found Croydon Tramtrack had a poor relationship with First Tram
Operations Ltd which manages its drivers and controllers.

'Found' would imply that it was one of the results of the investigation but
I've read the report and it is more of an aside.

According to the report, the poor relationship had the potential to
affect safety on the network.

But Tramtrack said it did not understand how the accident investigator
had come to this conclusion.

I am tending to their point of view on this one. The only examples cited in
the report for the supposed poor relationship were the purchase of a track
maintenance vehicle and modifications to control room software which were
apparently carried out by TCL, who own the system and provide the
infrastructure, without consultation with TOL, who are their sub-contractors
to operate it. It seems a major leap from there to concluding there are
potential safety problems.

Maybe there are issues but I can't see how the report could be used as a
weapon by TfL.