Merseytravel's blast after train cuts

A FURIOUS row has broken out between Merseytravel and Railtrack after the cancellation of several Merseyrail trains last week.

Merseytravel Chair Mark Dowd said that Railtrack had failed to carry out basic track lubrication checks, causing damage to train wheels. The result was that normal six-car services were reduced to three to keep service levels going.

He said that Railtrack added insult to injury by not turning up to last week's Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority (MPTA) Rail Committee to explain the situation.

"Yet again Railtrack are failing to deliver basic maintenance on the Merseyrail network and causing significant disruption to passengers' journeys. They are too busy counting profits, over £1 million a day, most of which is public subsidy," said Mr Dowd.

"This is not the first time it's happened. They are not learning from their mistakes and they are impervious to criticism. Time after time they do not turn up to Merseytravel meetings. Railtrack is unaccountable and out of control."

Mr Dowd, who is Chair of the Local Government Association Transport Committee, said he had taken the matter up with Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.

"Railtrack is cutting costs and standards. The number of broken tracks has rocketed nationwide since they took over. It is the ordinary rail passenger and the public purse that's being robbed. Now we have to take up arms in self-defence," he said.

A spokesperson for Railtrack denied the allegations. "Railtrack were not invited to the MPTA Rail Committee. This meeting is a meeting of elected councillors, discussing affairs relevant to the contracts between the MPTA and the train operators. Railtrack only attend when specifically invited and have not failed to attend any such meetings to which we have been invited," she said.

Railtrack also pointed out that delays caused by them has reduced by approximately 65 per cent whereas delay attributable to Merseyrail has reduced by 25 per cent.

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