Network Rail announced today that it is suspending contractor Carillion Rail from bidding for any new business for the immediate future until its workforce safety performance improves.
Network Rail said in a statement that it has been working with Carillion Rail on a workforce safety improvement plan, but has been disappointed with progress.
To enable the company to better focus on delivering current contracts and to deliver the required improvement in workforce safety, Network Rail has decided to remove Carillion Rail from its tender lists for new business.
Simon Kirby, Director of Major Projects & Investments, said: ‘Network Rail is raising the bar on workforce safety and Carillion Rail must improve its record in this area if it is to attract new rail business.
‘We want to give Carillion Rail the opportunity to focus on improving safety performance while delivering current contracts, rather than concentrating on bidding for new business. This is simply a precautionary measure designed to raise standards even further; this is not a response to any specific safety risk to the workforce or to passengers.’
This suspension, which is immediate, is one of Network Rail’s wider initiatives to improve workforce safety. These include investment in new technology, improved ‘mechanised’ track inspection and higher personal safety equipment standards.
Existing contracts held by Carillion Rail will remain in place, allowing the company to demonstrate improvements and to work towards an end to its suspension.
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