The Chiltern Railways (Bicester to Oxford Improvements) Order 2012

5.—(1) The Company 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.

(2) 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 date 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 upon the engineer written notice requiring the engineer to intimate approval or disapproval within a further period of 28 days beginning with the date upon which the engineer receives written notice from the undertaker. If by 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.

(3) If by the end of the period of 56 days beginning with the date on which such plans have been supplied to Network Rail, Network Rail gives notice to the Company that Network Rail desires itself to construct any part of a specified work which 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 Company desires such part of the specified work to be constructed, Network Rail must construct it on behalf of and to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company in accordance with the plans approved or deemed to be approved or settled under this paragraph.

(4) When signifying approval of the plans the engineer may specify any protective works (whether temporary or permanent) which in the engineer’s opinion should be carried out before the commencement of the 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 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 are to be constructed by Network Rail but at the expense of the Company, or if Network Rail so desires such protective works must be carried out by the Company at its own expense without unnecessary delay, and the Company must not commence the construction of the specified works until the engineer has notified the Company that the protective works have been completed to the engineer’s reasonable satisfaction.