ON November 7 you carried a story about road-over-rail bridges under the headline "Rail cash crisis could hit vital bridge work". Perhaps you would allow me to correct two inaccuracies in the article.
Your reporter says that a legal loophole means Railtrack only has to pay for repairs ensuring structures can carry vehicles weighing up to 24 tonnes. It is not a loophole. It is a legal obligation, set down in the 1968 Transport Act and Statutory Instrument 1705 dated 1972. These obligations have devolved from British Rail to Railtrack and have not changed.
Council Leader Bob Howarth is quoted as saying the situation is discouraging, particularly when the old company -- meaning Railtrack -- is not paying up. Far from not paying up, Railtrack is spending vast sums of money nationally strengthening bridges that do not meet its statutory obligations.
The reality in respect of bridges in Bolton is that we anticipate they will all meet our legal obligations, so the responsibility for ensuring they can carry weights in excess of 24 tonnes becomes that of the local authority. It certainly has nothing to do with Railtrack being in administration.
Keith Lumley
Media Relations Manager
Railtrack North West
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