40728 Maintenance regime at National Express East Anglia questioned

August 2009 in Train Operations

Rules and procedures Equipment Rolling stock East Anglia

A reporter fears that the current business climate is affecting maintenance standards at National Express East Anglia. He believes maintenance cuts mean work is being delayed, omitted or done to an unacceptable standard. It is felt that the maintenance regime as a whole should be investigated to help address any underlying problems that surface.

One particular incident - the exact details of which have been concealed - meant a primary suspension damper was never reinstalled before a train re-entered service. Though this was reported at the time, it is believed to be indicative of a wider problem that needs addressing at senior management level. The reporter suspects maintenance teams are overstretched and unable to carry out all the necessary checks.

Other related examples include:

• over 20 trains operating recently at half power because of a shortage of spares;
• approximately one in six 317 trains without a fully operational PA (public announcement) system; and
• train 317 653 with a missing handrail - and no repair book to report it in.

Could the response please focus on the reporter‟s assertion that the maintenance regime needs to be reviewed to ensure standards improve?

Response from National Express East Anglia

Due to the number of points raised NXEA has answered each point underneath rather than as a separate response.

A reporter fears that the current business climate is affecting maintenance standards at National Express East Anglia. He believes maintenance cuts mean work is being delayed, omitted or done to an unacceptable standard. It is felt that the maintenance regime as a whole should be investigated to help address any underlying problems that surface.

Whilst there have been some staff reductions throughout NXEA, these were kept to an absolute minimum in engineering with no direct reductions from the maintenance function.

One particular incident - the exact details of which have been concealed - meant a primary suspension damper was never reinstalled before a train re-entered service. Though this was reported at the time, it is believed to be indicative of a wider problem that needs addressing at senior management level. The reporter suspects maintenance teams are overstretched and unable to carry out all the necessary checks.

A driver identified that a primary damper was missing from a unit at Cambridge. This was reported and a technician was immediately dispatched from Ilford depot to attend the unit where a replacement damper was fitted. The incident has been fully investigated and evidence indicates that the damper was removed on maintenance and not refitted. To prevent reoccurrence staff have been briefed and additional in process checks have been put in place.

Other related examples include:

• over 20 trains operating recently at half power because of a shortage of spares;

The shortage of spares was due to the sudden damage caused by snow. A number of traction motor failures required motors to be cut out until the replacements arrived. Units can operate on half power without any risk to safety. All units have since been repaired and are now running at full power.

• approximately one in six 317 trains without a fully operational PA (Public Announcement) system; and

NXEA do not have any 317 units in service with PA defects. NXEA has a contingency plan for taking trains out of service with defective on train equipment. In the event of a defective PA on a 317 the unit will be allowed to complete its journey and then be removed from service. 317 units have recently been fitted with a passenger information system (PIS) that makes automatic passenger announcements and displays, a 317 unit is allowed to remain in service with a defective PIS, announcements will be made by the driver via the PA.

• Train 317 653 with a missing handrail - and no repair book to report it in.

Unit 653 has not been reported with a handrail missing. Unit 662 was reported to have a drivers‟ second man side handrail missing, this unit was like this since the unit was transferred to NXEA. Because of this unit 662 had a restriction placed on it, which was that the cab was not be used as an open end cab, whilst a new handrail was being manufactured. The handrail has since been manufactured and fitted.

Could the response please focus on the reporter's assertion that the maintenance regime needs to be reviewed to ensure standards improve?

The maintenance VMIs are always under review with reference to continued improving of standard performance. Faults and failures are constantly reviewed against the maintenance regime, to outline where job tasks can be added or the frequency amended.

Additional information provided by NXEA
The unit 653 has been checked since the complaint and does not have a missing handrail and also has a repair book in the unit cab. Datastream (the digital system used within NXEA for recording all maintenance tasks that have been undertaken and reports etc) does not show any record with regards to either of the above missing or being replaced. We cannot confirm the condition prior to the report but all evidence is pointing towards this being the incorrect unit number. As part of every unit exam regime a check is conducted on the unit repair book to ensure that it is in the cab and that there are enough pages left in the book for driver defect reporting.