Paragraph 15

The undertaker must before commencing construction of any specified work supply to Network Rail proper and sufficient plans of that work for the reasonable approval of the engineer and the specified work must not be commenced except in accordance with such plans as have been approved in writing by the engineer or settled by arbitration.

The approval of the engineer under sub-paragraph (1) must not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, and if by the end of the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which such plans have been supplied to Network Rail the engineer has not intimated disapproval of those plans and the grounds of disapproval, the undertaker may serve on the engineer written notice requiring the engineer to intimate approval or disapproval within a further period of 28 days beginning with the day on which the engineer receives written notice from the undertaker. If by the expiry of the further period of 28 days the engineer has not intimated approval or disapproval, the engineer is deemed to have approved the plans as submitted.

If by the expiry of 28 days beginning with the day on which written notice was served on the engineer under sub-paragraph (2), Network Rail gives notice to the undertaker that Network Rail desires itself to construct any part of a specified work that in the opinion of the engineer will or may affect the stability of railway property or the safe operation of traffic on the railways of Network Rail then, if the undertaker desires such part of the specified work to be constructed, Network Rail must construct it with all reasonable dispatch on behalf of and to the reasonable satisfaction of the undertaker in accordance with the plans approved or deemed to be approved or settled under this paragraph and under the supervision (where appropriate and if given) of the undertaker.

When signifying approval of the plans, the engineer may specify any protective works (whether temporary or permanent) that in the engineer’s opinion should be carried out before commencement of construction of a specified work to ensure the safety or stability of railway property or the continuation of safe and efficient operation of the railways of Network Rail or the services of operators using the same (including any relocation, decommissioning and removal of works, apparatus and equipment necessitated by a specified work and the comfort and safety of passengers who may be affected by the specified works), and such protective works as may be reasonably necessary for those purposes must be constructed by Network Rail or by the undertaker, if Network Rail so desires, and such protective works must be carried out at the expense of the undertaker, in either case with all reasonable dispatch, and the undertaker must not commence the construction of the specified works until the engineer has notified the undertaker that the protective works have been completed to the engineer’s reasonable satisfaction.