Network Rail faces contractor fury

Innocent contractors are furious with Network Rail after getting the blame for the late-running engineering fiasco that caused commuter chaos last week.

The rail operator released the names of all the contractors (see box) working on the delayed projects on the West Coast Mainline in Rugby and London's Liverpool Street station.

Many of the contractors named deny any involvement with the overrunning work. And they now fear being "tarred with the same brush" as the guilty parties as the inquest into over-runs continues.

A Network Rail investigation started this week. But contractors are still fuming that their names have been dragged through the papers ahead of the official probe.

One contractor said: "It's outrageous. There was a massive amount of effort committed to the job from a lot of contractors. My guys in particular have been working 24/7."

Another said: "Somebody's got to carry the can and it sounds like Network Rail is trying to spread the blame around the industry.

"What specific schemes have held up the reopening of the West Coast Mainline? Why hasn't Network Rail come forward with information on what the schemes are if they are going to hand out the names of all the contractors?"

When CJ spoke to Network Rail, a spokeswoman said its ongoing investigation prevented it from saying which of the contractors was to blame for the delays.

She confirmed that Bechtel, in its capacity as co-ordinating contractor, would be called in to meet with Network Rail chief executive Iain Coucher this week. But she declined to reveal which other contractors, if any, would also be grilled.

Atkins has issued a statement confirming that although it was involved in upgrade work in the Rugby area over Christmas, it was limited to signalling only, and it completed the job to schedule.

Nuttall told CJ that the only work it had done in the area was further north in Lichfield.

A Scott Wilson spokeswoman said the firm was not on call over the Christmas period, and was not on site and that, in any event, its work consisted largely of design and consultancy.

Clough Smith Rail also denied involvement, indicating that it too had completed its work to schedule.

But Network Rail defended the decision to release names of all the contractors.

The spokeswoman said: "There was a lot of media interest over who was working on the job. I think that information could have been found out anyway. So we were just saying 'that's who's been working on it', and now we're starting to look at what went wrong. It's not a blame game."

A Bechtel spokeswoman said: "We will continue to work closely with Network Rail and other contractors over the coming days to understand the underlying causes and facts."

Colas Rail and Kent PHK declined to respond to CJ's questions, while Telenet and ETI were not available for comment. Jarvis would only confirm that it was working in the Rugby area.

Network Rail chief executive Iain Coucher is coming under fire from contractors angry at being blamed for late engineering work.

The contractors named by Network Rail:

Rugby - West Coast Mainline:

Bechtel: project manager

Atkins: signalling, civil engineering and telecommunications

Electrack Installations: overhead line engineering

Jarvis: overhead line and civil engineering, signalling and telecommunications

Kent PHK: electrification and plant

Nuttall: civil engineering

Scott Wilson: signalling and signal sighting

Telenet: telecommunications

Liverpool Street:

Colas Rail