RMT

RMT responds to damning report on Network Rail failures over Christmas
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date 12 January 2015
source RMT
type Press release

General Secretary Mick Cash said

"At the core of this report is the clearest possible message that more than two decades of privatisation, fragmentation and under investment has left Britain's railways with a backlog of maintenance and renewals work that is simply impossible to shoehorn in during the limited window offered over the Christmas break. To try and pretend that we can squeeze a quart into a pint pot does no one any favours.

"The problems on Britain's railways are compounded by yet another slab of cuts being demanded from Network Rail by the government through their agents the Office of Rail Regulation. Pile on the ludicrous proliferation of casualised contractors and agencies looking to make a quick buck and it is no surprise to RMT that we ended up with the shambles played out over Christmas and ever since.

"The solution is to bring all works in house under a single command and control structure and to set realistic programmes and targets to tackle the backlog of works against the background of surging rail demand. It also means an end to the cuts to staffing and capacity on our railways that leave our members facing impossible demands. "



ENDS

Geoff Martin
07831 465 103
0207 255 9146

Railhub Archive ::: 2015-01-12 RMT-001