Network Rail chief QUITS after rail chaos on Elizabeth Line and Heathrow Express sparked by faulty overhead ca

  • Michelle Handforth said  in a letter to Network Rail staff the decision was right for herself, her family and the business

  • A Network Rail[2] manager has quit after hundreds of passengers were left stranded on trains across London[3] for hours in the cold and dark.

    Michelle Handforth, managing director for the Wales and Western region - including Paddington - has stepped down from her role, the rail company confirmed.

    It comes after chaos ensued on the Elizabeth Line, GWR and Heathrow Express after faulty overhead cables led to all trains coming to a standstill on the evening of December 7.

    Seven trains were stranded, leaving passengers stuck in cold and dark carriages for up to four hours. Elizabeth line trains have no toilets, adding to the discomfort on board. 

    Michelle Handforth (pictured) managing director for the Wales and Western region - including Paddington - has stepped down from her role Michelle Handforth (pictured) managing director for the Wales and Western region - including Paddington - has stepped down from her role

    Michelle Handforth (pictured) managing director for the Wales and Western region - including Paddington - has stepped down from her role

    Pictures and videos were shared on social media, with singer James Blunt and TV Presenter Rachel Riley both affected. 

    Rachel Riley posted on X: 'Nearly 4 hours after we got on, we're getting off the Elizabeth Line, woohoo!' 

    Countdown's Rachel Riley was one of those stuck on board the train from 6pm Countdown's Rachel Riley was one of those stuck on board the train from 6pm

    Countdown's Rachel Riley was one of those stuck on board the train from 6pm 

    Passengers sat in the dark on an Elizabeth line train outside Paddington station Passengers sat in the dark on an Elizabeth line train outside Paddington station

    Passengers sat in the dark on an Elizabeth line train outside Paddington station

    Passengers wait inside a train stuck on the Elizabeth line amid the chaotic scenes on December 7 Passengers wait inside a train stuck on the Elizabeth line amid the chaotic scenes on December 7

    Passengers wait inside a train stuck on the Elizabeth line amid the chaotic scenes on December 7

    Passengers walk after being evacuated from trains stuck on the Elizabeth line Passengers walk after being evacuated from trains stuck on the Elizabeth line

    Passengers walk after being evacuated from trains stuck on the Elizabeth line 

    James Blunt made light of the situation on X and posted: 'Been stuck somewhere outside Paddington for close to 4 hours now. Out of peanuts and wine. Can someone please contact @Dominoes_UK. This is an emergency.'

    The hellish night for commuters trapped on the £19 billion Elizabeth Line was compared to London in the Blitz.

    There were even claims of sexual touching with a police officer telling a passenger: 'Unfortunately we've had a few incidents. We've had one arrest of sexual touching and things like that. So things have taken longer than possibly what they should have done because someone decided that they wanted to touch someone up.'

    Train drivers' union Aslef claimed the Great Western Railway driver whose service hit the wires and caused the issue was an operations investigations manager drafted in due to a strike and paid £500 for a short shift to keep services running.

    Passengers left in the dark on board a train last night as one huddles over their suitcase Passengers left in the dark on board a train last night as one huddles over their suitcase

    Passengers left in the dark on board a train last night as one huddles over their suitcase

    Officials assist passengers to get down from a train stuck on the Elizabeth line Officials assist passengers to get down from a train stuck on the Elizabeth line

    Officials assist passengers to get down from a train stuck on the Elizabeth line 

    Queues at London Paddington station for taxis following the Elizabeth line chaos Queues at London Paddington station for taxis following the Elizabeth line chaos

    Queues at London Paddington station for taxis following the Elizabeth line chaos 

    Aslef released a photograph to MailOnline showing the overhead power cables that came down onto the GWR train in West London with passengers still on board.

    An Aslef spokesman told MailOnline: 'The problem is that many of these managers haven't driven a train for a long time and their competence is not what it should be.

    'We saw the result yesterday. Significant damage to the railway infrastructure, passengers put at risk, and serious disruption to the rail network.

    'But, I suppose, as an operations investigations manager, he is uniquely qualified to investigate his own actions and what went wrong.'

    GWR was contacted for comment by MailOnline and said the driver was 'fully qualified' with 'competence up to date'. 

    People stuck on a blacked out train on the Elizabeth Line after a power failure People stuck on a blacked out train on the Elizabeth Line after a power failure The only light inside the carriage was coming from their mobile phones The only light inside the carriage was coming from their mobile phones

    Videos showed passengers sitting in a blacked out carriage of the 6.37pm Paddington service 

    Aslef released a photo to MailOnline showing the overhead power cables that came down onto the Great Western Railway train in West London with passengers still on board Aslef released a photo to MailOnline showing the overhead power cables that came down onto the Great Western Railway train in West London with passengers still on board

    Aslef released a photo to MailOnline showing the overhead power cables that came down onto the Great Western Railway train in West London with passengers still on board

    Network Rail issued this map showing recommended alternative routes to/from Paddington Network Rail issued this map showing recommended alternative routes to/from Paddington

    Network Rail issued this map showing recommended alternative routes to/from Paddington

    Network Rail apologised for the mayhem and insisted its teams would work through the night to fix the problem.

    Chief executive of Network Rail  Andrew Haines said: 'I would like to thank Michelle for her hard work and support over these past three-and-a-half years', according to The Times[4].

    In a letter to Network Rail staff, published in The Times, Ms Handforth said: 'It's been a real privilege to work with you all through the highs and lows of the past couple of years, and while this decision is a real wrench to me, I believe it is the right one for me, my family and the business.

    'It has been such an honour to lead this region since joining the business in August 2020. Over that time we have faced an incredible range of challenges, but your support, friendship and good humour has been consistent throughout.

    'I am extremely proud of the achievements we have made together and while times feel tough right now, I know that a bright future for Wales and Western lies ahead.'  

    Last week the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, wrote a letter to the Chief Executive saying he was 'deeply concerned' about the 4,000 passengers left stranded and said the reliability of the Elizabeth Line in recent weeks had 'not been good enough'.

    Passengers on board one train on the Elizabeth line were stuck for hours Passengers on board one train on the Elizabeth line were stuck for hours

    Passengers on board one train on the Elizabeth line were stuck for hours

    The letter read: 'I was deeply concerned by the recent incident on December 7 where several busy trains, including four Elizabeth Line services, were stuck west of Paddington.

    'I appreciate this was caused by another operator's train damaging overhead wires in the Acton area, and as a result, the power had to be turned off by Network Rail, resulting in all lines being blocked in and out of Paddington. 

    'Loss of lighting and electricity on trains, a lack of communication, and long waiting times to be evacuated were widely reported.'

    He went on: 'More generally, the service has not met the consistently high standards to which we all aspire and which it has aimed to deliver since its launch last year. 

    'Londoners are rightly frustrated by the recent delays, cancellations, and at times, inadequate customer communication.'

    Mr Khan requested a meeting with Transport for London (TfL) and the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) to resolve the issues. 

    Office Rail and Road statistics published in September revealed the Elizabeth Line, which opened in May 2022, was top of the list for train cancellations in Britain.

    A total of 9.1 per cent of services did not run in the four weeks to August 19.

    Network Rail has been contacted for comment regarding the resignation announcement. 

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    References

    1. ^ Megan Howe (www.dailymail.co.uk)
    2. ^ Network Rail (www.dailymail.co.uk)
    3. ^ London (www.dailymail.co.uk)
    4. ^ The Times (www.thetimes.co.uk)

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