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Minister wrote to troubled rail company about his safety fears
A Transport Minister has written to beleaguered train operator National Express East Coast with his fears that "a major accident is just around the corner", a leaked memo reveals.
The Mminister, Gillingham MP Paul Clark, outlined a series of complaints which he says he is treating with the "utmost seriousness" and include allegations that the company is operating trains with brake defects.
The letter has emerged just days after the Government stripped the East Coast Main Line franchise from National Express East Coast (NXEC) after the company said it could not afford to pay the remainder of its 1.4bn eight-year contract. A reply from NXEC managing director Susan Goldsmith, also leaked to the Yorkshire Post, says the operator "would never compromise on safety" and "does not accept that safety has been compromised".
Mr Clark's letter, sent on May 14, was done so in his personal capacity as an MP rather than in his ministerial role and follows a meeting he had with a constituent who works for the operator, where a series of complaints were made.
Last night a Department for Transport spokesman said the letter had not been seen by any other minister or official in the department.
Mr Clark's letter outlines a series of complaints made to him. They include: "As a result of reduced maintenance checks, 'some long-haul sets (trains) are in use with brake defects'.
"Increasing cuts in staff combined with an increasing pressure to ensure that trains run safely has resulted in fears among staff that a major accident is 'just around the corner'.
"Passengers on NXEC have been 'poisoned' as a result of coffee machines not being cleaned correctly, with cleaning fluids left in situ." Mr Clark added: "I take my constituent's comments with the utmost seriousness and I am shocked and appalled at the information with which I've been provided. You will understand that these allegations are exceptionally serious, and I would welcome your response as a matter of urgency."
In a response two weeks later, Ms Goldsmith said there had been "isolated instances" of problems reported with coffee machines on board a "small number" of trains but the company had taken "prompt action to identify and eliminate areas of risk" and give staff extra training.
"We have an extremely rigorous maintenance regime which fully complies with operating and engineering protocols.
"Safety critical work is given the highest priority. It is undertaken on a regular basis. There has been no change either in the nature or frequency of the robust procedures we have in place for checking and maintaining brakes."
Comment: Page 14.
tom.smithard@ypn.co.uk
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