Labour Transport spokesman Brian Simpson has called on the Office of the Rail Regulator to hold a full inquiry into the severe disruption on the West Coast Mainline near London between the 5^th and 7^th January 2009.  On numerous occasions recently power lines have failed leading to severe disruption for travellers to the North West.

“This is a line on which billions of pounds have been spent on modernising the system and within 3 weeks of completion it has failed twice.  Why? said Mr. Simpson.

Many passengers have had nightmare journeys recently on top of large fare increases, and despite reassurances in the past from Network Rail the system has failed again.  Now Mr. Simpson wants  the Rail Regulator to intervene.

“I want the Rail Regulator to investigate why this multi billion pound taxpayer investment in the West Coast Mainline has failed the travelling public yet again and if it is found to be a fault of Network Rail, they and their senior management should be brought to book especially if it is found that Network Rail despite my advice, and the advice of some Train Operators, insisted on introducing the new services in December when many of us questioned whether that would work” says Mr. Simpson.

The  power failures came on top of the line being disrupted on 2^nd January when a light aircraft crashed on the tracks near Stafford, which means that since the New Year, the line has faced disruption and passengers have been severely inconvenienced – a point made forceably by Mr. Simpson..

“Travelling on the West Coast Mainline has been nothing short of a nightmare recently and the Rail Regulator should be asking Network Rail why” said Mr. Simpson..