Cuts will compromise rail safety, tuc warns

Spending cuts planned by Network Rail will compromise passenger safety, a new TUC report, The future of rail funding in the UK, sets out.

The rail infrastructure company is planning to slash annual expenditure by £100 million, mainly through the loss of 2,500 rail maintenance jobs.

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said that if the cuts go ahead, “it will mean the loss of safety-critical jobs and a greater risk of serious accidents like Stonehaven, Potters Bar and Hatfield.”

Previously unpublished RMT rail union analysis of Network Rail data found that the cuts will lead to 670,000 fewer hours of maintenance work annually.

Network Rail’s responsibilities include track maintenance, essential in avoiding fatal accidents like Hatfield which killed four people and injured many more, the TUC said. The derailment was caused by metal tracks fatiguing.

It is also responsible for maintaining signals to ensure trains are on time and prevent collisions, for the electricity supply to the network, and for the safe upkeep of buildings including public spaces like the UK’s largest railway stations.

“We all want good transport links for our community, with frequent, safe, reliable and affordable trains,” O’ Grady added.

“We need a better vision for the future of Britain’s railways than commuters packed like sardines in unsafe trains.”