NETWORK RAIL – CONCERNS REGARDING POSSESSION MANAGEMENT DIGITAL TRIALS (PODFLO, CHECKPOINT APP, RELATED SYSTEMS)

Circular No: NP/168/25

Our ref: HSR

1^st October 2025

 

To: All branch secretaries 

All Regional Councils 

 

Dear Colleagues

 

NETWORK RAIL – CONCERNS REGARDING POSSESSION MANAGEMENT DIGITAL TRIALS (PODFLO, CHECKPOINT APP, RELATED SYSTEMS)

 

I have received a report from the Lead Officer noting that Network Rail has invited RMT to a one-hour Teams meeting on 13th October with 44 attendees to discuss the Podflo Trial. I am concerned that this format is not fit for meaningful consultation.

 

Network Rail has failed to provide clear documentation - earlier commitments on the Checkpoint App consultation remain outstanding. Multiple overlapping systems (Podflo, Checkpoint, earlier trials) are being pursued by different routes without a consistent national approach, and both Podflo and Checkpoint envisage deployment across multi-contractor sites, but there is no clear framework for subcontractors, agency staff, or those without app access.  Thereby risking creation of dual safety systems, confusion, and liability issues.

 

Alongside this is the wider trend of Network Rail bypassing proper consultation and moving towards fragmented rollouts under the guise of “trials.”

 

Given this your NEC (National Executive Committee) met on 25th September 2025 to consider this issue, when they adopted the following report:

We note the Lead Officers report on file.

 

Furthermore, this NEC finds it disturbing that Network Rail are regularly attempting to undermine our collective bargaining agreement by refusing to engage in meaningful consultation. 

 

Accordingly, we instruct the General Secretary to write to the company and request the following:

1. Face-to-face meeting for Podflo, with adequate time for structured consultation.

2. Formal minutes to be taken at all such meetings, circulated promptly, and agreed by all parties.

3. Full documentation disclosure ahead of the meeting, including:

o Podflo safety case

o Overlaps and distinctions with Checkpoint and other possession management tools

o Governance structure and industry adoption plan

o Impact assessments for contractors and supply chain staff

4. Assurances on consistency: a national, standardised approach to possession management, rather than fragmented route-based trials.

5. Worker and rep involvement: Unions to be embedded in trial design, not presented with systems post hoc.

 

Relevant members, Branches and Regional Councils to be informed via email and text. 

 

I am acting in accordance with these instructions and will keep you advised of developments.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Eddie Dempsey

General Secretary