Report warns of stark future for rail

Rail unions have welcomed a report by City and Guilds and the National Skills Academy for Rail which predicts a “stark” future for the industry.

The report, Back on track, warns of a looming skills shortfall, with up to 120,000 workers likely to be required over the next five to 10 years; an ageing workforce in which 28% of workers are aged over 50; and a failure to attract a diverse workforce – only 16% of the rail workforce is female.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash pointed to fragmentation and outsourcing as contributing factors. “To allow skills to be created, retained and also seamlessly transferred around the railway we need a return to a unified and integrated approach to railway itself and the stable, secure and attractive career path that would create,” he said.

“This report should also serve as another good reason for the government to abandon its plans to abolish trade union learning which has done so much to help promote rail skills,” he added.

TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes urged the government and industry to take on board the report’s recommendations and act now to prevent a skills gap, commenting: “Clean, accessible travel on public transport must be a core part of our future infrastructure and way of life and investing in railway staff is crucial to its success.”

https://www.nsar.co.uk/2020/11/back-on-track-report-released-by-city-guilds-and-the-nsar

https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/rmt-responds-to-new-report-on-skills-crisis-facing-the-rail

https://www.tssa.org.uk/en/whats-new/news/index.cfm/report-exposes-clear-need-to-recruit-new-people-to-rail-industry-says-tssa