Rail Minister Lord Hendy apologises for tone of letter to Systra in response to Euston safety concerns

Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy has publicly apologised for suggesting contracts could be withheld from a supplier whose employee had raised concerns about safety at Euston station.

In his previous role as Chair of Network Rail, Hendy sent a letter to Systra CEO Nick Salt concerning consultant Gareth Dennis who had described Euston as “not just unpleasant, but unsafe” in an article published in the Independent newspaper in May of this year.

In answer to a question from the Press Association news agency at the Railway Industry Association annual conference in London, Hendy first defended Network Rail’s handling of concerns over safety at Euston.

“Safety is an absolute priority for Network Rail, when I was the Chair and still is for the railway. And actually we've always acted quickly when concerns are raised by the regulator or through CIRAS or anything,” he said.

On the Independent article, he added: "In the case of Euston, there was an ORR improvement notice in 2023. We responded to it with alacrity and it was closed out before the end of that year, months before the article.” 

Dennis believes pressure on the company led to his dismissal from Systra on July 8. An FOI request from the Politico website revealed Hendy had written a letter to Systra, warning that the comments made by Dennis could “reflect adversely on your likelihood of doing business with us or your supply chain again.” It was published in full on the Politico website. 

"For those of you who read my letter, there was a sentence at the end where the tone of it fell well short of what should be expected, and for that I apologise,” said Hendy.

“No contractor has or will be penalised for employees raising concerns about safety, whether they raise them through NR, ORR, the DfT for that matter or confidentially through CIRAS, if that's what they want to do. The employment decisions about the person concerned are a matter for his employer.” 

Dennis was suspended in May and dismissed in July.

Responding to Hendy's comments, Dennis accused the Rail Minister of “only apologising … to calm the anger of a supply chain he was seemingly willing to threaten and cajole”.

“He is not apologising for the harm he has caused me or the damage he has caused to the rail industry’s public reputation," he said.

“I still don’t have a job, because he had me sacked at a time when roles in rail engineering are few and far between, and because his act has made potential employers wary.

“Only a full and frank apology can reverse some of that damage.

“For the rail industry to be confident that its safety culture doesn’t take second place to reputational culture, he needs to make an unequivocal apology for his letter and for having me removed from my job.”

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) issued an improvement notice to Network Rail in relation to Euston on September 26 last year, accusing the Government-owned company of failing to prevent safety risks from “unacceptable” overcrowding.

The ORR found Network Rail “complied” with the notice on December 15 by implementing measures to “manage passenger traffic flows and overcrowding”, but concerns about the station continued.

London TravelWatch said in early October that “last-minute announcements” caused passengers to “rush to platforms”, and staff “appear overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of people”.

Last month Network Rail announced that 40% of Avanti West Coast services will commence boarding 20 minutes prior to departure. This initiative is set to expand to around 55% of services in the lead-up to Christmas. Additionally, London Northwestern Railway has already introduced "continuous boarding" for Birmingham services, allowing passengers to board as soon as the preceding train departs.

This came after the Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh, announced a five-point plan to improve the passenger experience at the station.