WCRC Licence Suspended

Please provide examples of the industries you have in mind, and provide examples of how that is different to what is being applied in the railway industry.

 

So what would have happened if a Franchised Operator had found themselves in the situation WCRC are in now??

 

Connex used to put two fingers up to the regulator as a matter of course. They had two of the biggest passenger franchises. You probably don't remember them, they went to the Naughty Step in 2003, in the most ignominious way, and stayed there permanently.

 

Assuming you mean they were found to have serious flaws in their safety procedures, and the ORR wanted to take their license away it is likely they would be taken under temporary public ownership with an appointed official to bring them back under control. Similar to what happened to Railtrack

 

I'd suggest that the change in approach occurred since 2006 with the transfer of responsibility from hmri to ORR.
Industries that are safety case based like nuclear, offshore, some chemicals and explosives remain subject to routine inspection visits plus random spot checks. They are deemed hazardous so proactive intelligence based inspection is used to check engineering and organisational controls are in place and operating effectively with a proportionate health and safety culture.
I get the impression that rail compliance under ROGS via ORR is not assessed or evaluated in the same way as before or presently in comparable industries. Happy to defer to those with better knowledge though.

 

Not sure what you mean by the transfer of responsibility from HMRI to ORR. HMRI still exist and are part of the ORR.

 

Does HMRI operate as it did when part of HSE?
Its not my field of expertise but I infer that while some industries remain subject to statutory inspections, predominantly by HSE, railways are not anymore. The point being that proactive inspection could help avoid the ultimate sanction. If the enforcement regime for rail is largely reactive, as others have implied, any intervention will not be as effectively preventive only corrective. Again apologies if I have misread the situation.

 

There have been occasions in the past when posts critical of WCR have been removed from NatPres, sometimes with threat of legal action I believe. Can the Moderators reveal if any such requests have been received from WCR since the suspension? Mind you WCR has more pressing matters to address at the moment!

Dave

 

Has this question been answered yet as I also cannot find such a reference?

 

Good response Al, no ambiguity, very honest, and impossible to misunderstand I'd suggest, : )

 

Over to Direct Rail Services?

 

I have highlighted the bits for specific comment? You are making a number of very specific points which suggest a degree of inside information so I will bow to your knowledge and just address the issues.

I would suggest that at least in the short term the revoking of WCRC licence is not the best solution if you have any interest in steam on the main line, it will leave a very small proportion of the present programme, mainly southern based. I know there remains some question whether DBS will operate vac only, but if they wont that removes a huge number of locomotives from the mainline - unless their owners decide it is worth pursuing air brakes, which I suggest will be even more nonviable if the potential work is slashed. - to say this is the bext solution for the users of this forum has an air of Turkey's voting for Christmas.

Do we know if a Phoenix WCRC will appear, and how will this company be funded during the period 2015-2016 (at the earliest) when it has no income, we seem to be placing all our egg's in a gilt edged basket with that idea.

I really wish I shared your optimism that mainline steam would return stronger, I cannot see any evidence to support that position at the moment unless there is a company waiting in the wings - must be remembered that WCRC gained their monopoly because no one else appeared to want the work, I am not aware of them forcing anyone out of the market - does steam work even make an acceptable return - we all have no idea.

 

I thought as much, just another example of the smoke and mirrors which encircle this thread!

 

Never in all the reports I have read, and I have no desire that they start to do so either (not that there is any danger of that happening).

 

Your impression is wrong.

 

Railways are still subject to statutory inspections under the H&S@W Act but these are done by HMRI and not HSE, in the same way that mines and quarries are policed by HM Inspectorate of Mines.

 

Not really. There are plenty of people posting here who know who the person is....it's a small industry, and if you are reasonably competent using the internet and read the clues in the report it should take about 30mins to find out the name. I am not sure what good that will do you and I certainly don't think the name should be published, I suspect the others here who know who it is feel the same.