2001-07-24 Railtrack annual general meeting - chairman’s statement (Railtrack plc)

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date 19 November 1997
source Railtrack plc
type Press release

Senior rail chiefs have voted overwhelmingly to create a cross-industry body to solve potential problems caused by the millennium bug.

The Railtrack-hosted Director's Forum was attended by senior management from across the industry. Speakers included Rail Regulator John Swift, who emphasised that he would expect to see continued collaboration between rail businesses to ensure that passengers were not affected by the date change.

Railtrack's Year 2000 Programme Director Philip Collings suggested that a cross-industry body - the Rail Millennium Programme Office (RMPO) - be created to oversee and co-ordinate initiatives within each business. Votes at the end of the half-day conference proved an overwhelming majority to be in favour of an industry-owned body. David Rayner will take up the position of independent Chair of the RMPO following his retirement from Railtrack, where he is currently Director, Safety and Standards.

The RMPO will be funded on a proportional basis by its industry members and is expected to cost around £1.5 million annually to run. It will be located alongside Railtrack's existing Year 2000 programme.

Philip Collings said: "It is encouraging to find that the whole industry is keen to work together to make a seamless transition into the next century. Railtrack is determined to make sure that, for the railway, it will be business as usual as the millennium is rung in."

Railhub Archive ::: 1997-11-19 RTK-001