Improvement notices

Improvement notices issued since 1 April 2006: 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006.

Copies of improvement and prohibition notices can be found on our Public register. Guidance on searching ( PDF 2135 Kb) the Public register is available.

Prior to 1 April 2006, the Health and Safety Executive enforced health and safety legislation for railways and you will find relevant notices on the HSE website.

2011

Company and notice number	Brief description	Issue date	Compliance date	Result
Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd I/SDA1912201101	An Improvement Notice was served against Network Rail Infrastructure Limited on 19 December 2011 relating to two separate lifting incidents involving Road Rail Vehicles. The first incident occurred at Folkestone Harbour on the 15 August 2011 and the second on the 4 December 2011 at Bearsted, Kent and the notice was issued as a result of Network Rail Limited’s failure to ensure that lifting operations in both cases were properly planned, resourced and appropriately supervised or carried out in a safe manner.	19 Dec 2011	30 Apr 2012	Open
WELD-A-RAIL Limited I/UA/12122011	The Improvement notice was issued as a result of WELD-A-RAIL Limited’s failure to have in place a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risk to their employees’ health from potentially hazardous fumes and gasses arising from gas cutting work, relating to work carried out following an inspection on the 19th-20th November at Ratcliffe, Nottinghamshire.	12 Dec 2011	29 Feb 2012	Open
Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd I/UA/15112011	The improvement notice was issued as a result of Network Rail Infrastructure Limited’s failure to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, arrangements that provide effective inspection, maintenance and management of the permanent way assets at Watford South Junction whereby trains passing over were likely to be exposed to risk of derailment.	17 Nov 2011	29 Feb 2012	Open
Ribble Steam Railway Ltd IN/cnrg/1102/11/08/2	The Improvement notice was issued as a result of Ribble Steam Railway Ltd’s failure to ensure that their employees and others were not at risk of exposure to asbestos when using their premises, and were also not given adequate training and instruction on the treatment of asbestos, this was relating to investigations that were carried out at their running shed, workshop and on a locomotive, Windel, based near Preston Docks.	16 Nov 2011	1 March 2012	Open
Ribble Steam Railway Ltd IN/cnrg/1102/11/08/1	The Improvement notice was issued as a result of Ribble Steam Railway Ltd.  not having in a place a suitable and sufficient assessment as to whether asbestos was present at their premises, this was relating to investigations that were carried out at their running shed, workshop and on a locomotive, Windel, based near Preston Docks.	16 Nov 2011	1 March 2012	Open
Tanfield Railway Company Limited I/4264588	The Improvement notice was issued due the Tanfield Railway Company Limited not having in place an established, complete and recorded Safety Management System consistent with and appropriate to the operation and maintenance of a standard gauge heritage railway.	31 Oct 2011	30 April 2012	Open
Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd I/AJM20111026/1	The Improvement notice was issued as a result of Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd's failure to produce recorded significant findings to prove that they carried out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment in relation to the planned introduction of overhead electrical traction equipment. The work was carried out on NR infrastructure near St.Helens, Merseyside.	26 Oct 2011	13 Dec 2011	Complied
Amey Rail Limited I/VP 1AMEYCOLAS2011	The Improvement notice was issued relating to the Ameycolas joint venture working at the High Output Operations Base (HOOB) in Crewe and they currently have the contract to maintain and operate NR's high output ballast cleaning machines (HOBC). Following a site inspection on 5 October 2011 and a subsequent site visit on 11 October 2011 it was observed that Ameycolas had failed to properly implement a safe system for isolating the HOBC machine's power systems when cleaning and maintenance work was being undertaken. In addition the procedures for systems isolation were not secure or robust.	17 October 2011	23 January 2012	Open
Colas Rail Limited I/VP 2AMEYCOLAS2011	The Improvement notice was issued relating to the Ameycolas joint venture working at the High Output Operations Base (HOOB) in Crewe and they currently have the contract to maintain and operate NR's high output ballast cleaning machines (HOBC). Following a site inspection on 5 October 2011 and a subsequent site visit on 11 October 2011 it was observed that Ameycolas had failed to properly implement a safe system for isolating the HOBC machine's power systems when cleaning and maintenance work was being undertaken. In addition the procedures for systems isolation were not secure or robust.	17 October 2011	23 January 2012	Open
Babcock Rail Ltd I/LVM/20110922/BAB/02	The improvement notice was issued due to Babcock Rail Ltd's failure to plan, manage and monitor construction work under their control, so that their staff as well as pedestrians and vehicles could move safely around their construction sites without risk on Network Rail managed railway infrastructure in the Scotland, LNW and LNE routes.	21 Sep 2011	30 Nov 2011	Open
Babcock Rail Ltd I/LVM/20110922/BAB/01	The improvement notice was issued as Babcock Rail had failed to ensure that lifting operations being undertaken with Road Rail Vehicle excavator cranes were properly planned, supervised and carried out on Network Rail managed railway infrastructure in the Scotland, LNW and LNE routes.	21 Sep 2011	31 Dec 2011	Open
West Coast Railway Company Ltd I/IFM/110811/1	The Improvement notice was issued as West Coast Railway Company Limited did not have in place up to date documentation relating to their driver management arrangements.	11 Aug 2011	18 Nov 2011	Open
Wensleydale Railway plc I/4256054	This Improvement notice relates to the Wensleydale Railway plc and was issued as a result of Wensleydale Railway PLC's failure to have in place an established, complete and recorded Safety Management System (SMS) in accordance with the required regulations.	14 Jul 2011	31 Oct 2011	Complied
Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd LVM/20110706/NR/01	The Improvement notice was issued as a result of Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd's failure to have in place effective systems, to ensure the assessment of risks from moving trains and the communication and implementation of appropriate safety control measures; this was in relation to an incident on 12 June 2011 in which a contractor earthed a live overhead conductor line and was nearly hit by an approaching train.	6 Jul 2011	30 Sep 2011	Complied
Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd I/DW201106A	Following recent inspections of level crossings in the Dundee area, there were found to be significant and apparently long-term defects at each crossing, whereby the risk to users was not reduced so far as was reasonably practicable.	27 Jun 2011	30 Sep 2011	Complied
Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd I/HDG/110624/01	The Improvement notice was issued as a result Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd's failure to implement effective measures to control, as far as reasonably practical, the risk of trains being derailed by trespassers placing materials onto the track that have been previously left lineside by maintenance teams. Lineside material was observed in various locations of NR managed infrastructure that was within the control of the Glasgow maintenance delivery unit.	24 Jun 2011	24 Dec 2011	Open
Gatwick Airport Ltd I/ICR/062011/01	This Improvement Notice relates to the guided transport system, which operates between the North and South Terminals at Gatwick Airport and was served following two incidents in 2011, where parts of the trains had fallen off due to being inadequately secured, the incidents were considered to be symptomatic of having a system of maintenance that lacked suitable levels of supervision and checking of safety critical tasks.	23 Jun 2011	1 Nov 2011	Complied
Bure Valley Railway (1991) Ltd I/4252715/4255351	Following an incident on 30 May 2011, in which a passenger train derailed (one carriage). This derailment occurred due to a broken axle (external wheel stub axle), which resulted in the bogie derailing. The Improvement notice was issued as a result of Bure Valley Railway 's failure to have in place an established, complete and recorded safety management system (SMS) in accordance with the regulated requirements.	22 Jun 2011	30 Sept 2011	Complied
Strathspey Railway Company Ltd I/4253025	The Improvement notice was issued as a result of Strathspey Railway Company Ltd operating a steam locomotive in passenger service on nine separate occasions during 2010. This, despite the locomotive not having up to date statutory examination certification.	17 Jun 2011	31 Jul 2011	Complied
Balfour Beatty Rail Infrastructure Ltd I/LVM/20110606/BB/01	This notice was issued due to Balfour Beatty Rail Infrastructure Ltd’s failure to ensure that lifting operations being undertaken with Road Rail Vehicle excavator cranes were properly planned, supervised and carried out on NR infrastructure on the Wessex route.	6 Jun 2011	5 Oct 2011	Complied
Balfour Beatty Rail Infrastructure Ltd I/LVM/20110606/BB/02	The notice was issued as a result of Balfour Beatty Rail Infrastructure Ltd's failure to plan, manage and monitor construction work under their control, so that pedestrians and vehicles could move safely around the construction sites without risk when they were undertaking Track Renewal work on NR infrastructure on the Wessex route.	6 Jun 2011	8 Aug 2011	Complied
Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd P/RML/1/23/5/11	In addition to the Prohibition Notice (P/RML/1/23/5/11) an Improvement Notice was also served highlighting some deficiencies at the Moor Farm, User Work Crossing (UWC) at Millom, Cheshire. Please note: the visibility from the upside decision point of trains approaching on the Up Main is obscured by vegetation; the different design of pedestrian gates on the Up and Down sides presents a risk of persons being trapped on the crossing; the gate spring on the Down side pedestrian gate is not adequate to hold the gate in the closed position; and the UWC gate on the Down side of the crossing has dropped on its hinges and does not easily shut.	23 May 2011	23 May 2011	Complied
Network Rail Infrastructure Limited I/303293339/JPMcG	This notice was issued as a result of inspections undertaken in various routes as part of ORR's 2010/11 inspection programme. These inspections along with discussions with Network Rail identified a failure to have suitable and sufficient measures in place for ensuring that various bridges and other non-earthworks structures were fully examined and reports of these examinations were evaluated at appropriate intervals to ensure structures remain safe.	20 May 2011	31 Aug 2011	Open
Network Rail (Western) I/303280141	Following a collapsed culvert (under bridge) in the Bromsgrove area, investigations into the incident identified inadequacies with the management of structures within NR's Western Route. In particular, the regime for visual inspections and detailed examinations of under bridges was not being suitably monitored and reviewed.	13 May 2011	1 Oct 2011	Open
Amey Rail Ltd I/303250820 and I/303250787	The AmeyColas joint venture working at sites near Barry Docks and Barnwood Junction failed to properly plan, manage and monitor construction work so it could be carried out without undue risk to health and safety.They also had not put in place adequate arrangements for the control of people and vehicles and failure to prevent unauthorised access. In addition both companies also failed to properly plan, supervise and carry out lifting operations with road-rail vehicles during the above track renewals.	28 Apr 2011	28 Jul 2011 (I/303250820) 28 Jul 2011 (I/303250787)	Complied
Colas Rail Ltd I/303250805 and I/303250758	The AmeyColas joint venture working at sites near Barry Docks and Barnwood Junction failed to properly plan, manage and monitor construction work so it could be carried out without undue risk to health and safety.They also had not put in place adequate arrangements for the control of people and vehicles and failure to prevent  unauthorised access. In addition both companies also failed to properly plan, supervise and carry out lifting operations with road-rail vehicles during the above track renewals.	28 Apr 2011	28 Jul 2011 (I/303250805) 28 Jul 2011 (I/303250758)	Complied
Network Rail Infrastructure Limited I/NA/210411/01	This notice was issued as a result of Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd's failure to provide lineside fencing to prevent unauthorised access by members of the public and animals. The affected line is part of the Robin Hood Line located in the vicinity of Norwood Level Crossing and Whaley Thorns village.	21 Apr 2011	2 Jun 2011	Complied
Network Rail Infrastructure Limited RGT/17032011-1	The notice was served as a result of Network Rail Infrastructure Limited's failure to make suitable and sufficient assessments of the health and safety risk to their employees / non employees when operating type 9B excavators (road rail vehicles). This has put the safety of their employees / non employees at risk due to the possibility of the road rail vehicle being unable to stop in a controlled manner when the vehicle is used on gradients, in wet conditions and conditions of low adhesion.	17 Mar 2011	17 Jun 2011	Open
Colas Rail Ltd 303148156	The notice were issued as a result of Colas Rail Ltd's failure to implement an effective method or system (Permit to Dig) when attempting to identify buried electrical cables /services at the Network Rail construction site at Westbourne Park, London.This put the safety of staff and others at risk due to the possibility of striking an unidentified electrical cable whilst digging.	7 Mar 2011	6 Jun 2011	Complied
Birse Rail Ltd 303135497	This notice was issued due to Birse Rail Ltd’s failure to have in place arrangements to ensure that subcontract staff are not liable to become so fatigued that their Health and Safety or that of others could be affected.	28 Feb 2011	28 Mar 2011	Complied
Dixon Scaffolding (Transmission) Ltd 303135471	This notice was issued due to Dixon Scaffolding (Transmission) Ltd’s failure to have in place arrangements to ensure that subcontract staff are not liable to become so fatigued that their Health and Safety or that of others could be affected.	28 Feb 2011	28 Mar 2011	Complied
Network Rail Infrastructure Limited ACC/18022011/01	Following an inspection at Banbury Depot this notice was issued as Network Rail had incomplete arrangements to record and monitor the repair of track defects.	21 Feb 2011	29 Apr 2011	Open
Network Rail Infrastructure Limited ACC/18022011/02	Following an inspection at Banbury Depot this notice was issued due to Network Rail’s failure to adequately inspect and record the condition of switches and crossings.	21 Feb 2011	29 Apr 2011	Open
Network Rail Infrastructure Limited DCW201102A	Following an inspection on 9 Feb 2011 at Achterneed level crossing (AOCL) in Ross-shire, Scotland. The condition of the crossing was such that an Improvement Notice was served requiring work to be undertaken to restore compliance. In particular, some issues found were: The reflectorised markings to signs/diagrams were significantly worn. The crossing surface was broken and potholed and not maintained in good and even condition.	15 Feb 2011	14 Mar 2011	Complied
BAM Nuttall Limited 01/JJC/2011	This notice was issued as a result of BAM Nuttall Limited's failure to have in place arrangements to ensure that staff are not liable to become so fatigued that their Health and Safety or that of others could be affected. These findings were made during an inspection at the Gerrard's Cross track renewal site.	8 Feb 2011	4 April 2011	Complied
Shackerstone Railway Society Limited 4226693/4239226	This notice was issued as a result of Shackerstone Railway Society Limited's failure to demonstrate they have  assessed those persons who undertake safety critical work as being competent and have not kept accurate and up to date records of such assessments.	7 Feb 2011	31 May 2011	Complied
Shackerstone Railway Society Limited 422693/4239212	This notice was issued as a result of Shackerstone Railway Society Limited's failure to demonstrate an established, complete and maintained Safety Management System.	7 Feb 2011	31 May 2011	Complied
Docklands Light Railway Limited 1900111/JL1	Notice was issued as a result of Docklands Light Railway Limited's failure to take reasonably practicable measures to ensure the safe operation of the network. In that, control centre controllers have excessive numbers of safety alarms presented to them, with no clear instructions on the actions required to prioritise and respond to these alarms.	19 Jan 2011	30 Apr 2012	Open

Last updated: 30 January 2012

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