HSE Accepts PPP Safety Case

PPP, the controversial part privatisation of the Tube has moved a step closer. The Health and Safety Executive has accepted the Safety Case put forward by London Underground.

A Safety Case document is a statutory requirement for all railway operators that details their safety arrangements. The document must be reviewed and revised regularly. In this case, the document will cover safety arrangements once the contracts for PPP have been completed.

Tube Safety Director, Mike Strzelecki said: "We are very pleased that this important milestone has been passed. It is the result of over three years hard work preparing for the Public Private Partnership (PPP) for London's Underground."

"The HSE has carried out a rigorous examination of our Safety Case and - more importantly - how we manage safety 'on the ground'. Both were found to be effective and robust."

"Though our record is good, we cannot afford to be complacent and we will continue to concentrate on running a safe and efficient railway for the three million customers who use the Tube every day."

However this view is not shared by Transport Commissioner Bob Kiley. Bob said, "The HSE has today judged the PPP Safety Case as providing an effective safety management system for the Tube. That is the same conclusion the HSE reached for the privatised and fragmented national rail network."

"As someone who has had direct safety responsibility for other urban metros, I am still not convinced this PPP is safe. Transport experts are not convinced. Neither the Mayor nor the House of Commons Transport Select Committee is convinced. But perhaps most importantly - and unsurprisingly given their experiences of the national rail network - the travelling public is not convinced."

Mr Kiley feels several issues are still unresolved. These include uncertainty over ownership of many of the Tubes physical assets, and the HSE approving the Safety Case without reviewing final contracts or financial arrangements with the Infracos.

Wednesday, 17th July 2002