Frustration goes on as tunnel reopening delayed over safety

9:37am Monday 15th August 2005

THE proposed reopening of the Gerrards Cross railway line this week has been scrapped as rail bosses are not satisfied the tunnel has been made safe.

Network Rail and Chiltern Railways bosses said they now are "pushing" Tesco and its engineers Jackson Civil Engineering to end the ongoing delay in reopening the railway line at Gerrards Cross.

Network Rail said the first report, which was presented to the rail company and the Health and Safety Executive last Monday, did "not go far enough" to reassure them the tunnel is safe for train travel to resume.

Network Rail spokesman Ben Herbert said: "We are very frustrated by the delay in re-opening, but there is no question of doing that until we are 100 per cent sure the tunnel is safe.

"The matter is ongoing and we are continuing to press Tesco and its contractors to get this issue resolved as soon as possible. They have to prove to us the structure is safe."

The tunnel, part of a Tesco superstore development, collapsed on June 30 when the roof caved in.

Network Rail said it shared the frustration passengers must be feeling because of the delay, and their main concern was the swift reopening of the railway line.

There are now calls for Tesco's report into why the tunnel collapsed to be made public.

Chairman of the London Transport Users Committee, which covers the Gerrards Cross line, said: "We shall be pressing for a summary of the conclusion of the report to be made public.

"We are concerned there is an issue of public confidence. We want to see elements of the final version of the report published."

Tesco, however, said the report was a technical document and it was not likely that anything would be made public at this time.

The findings by the HSE into the collapse will only be made public after its investigation is completed, and, if necessary, at the end of any legal proceedings.

Jennifer Woolveridge, South Bucks District councillor for Gerrards Cross South, said it should be safety, not speed, which is of primary concern.

She said: "It is more important to be safe and secure than quick and foolish. The checks and balances need to be in place. I am very sorry for commuters, but it is more important for the confidence of the travelling public to be maintained than to be speedy."