West Midlands Trains 730 units entry into service Birmingham into Liverpool

Our ref: HSR

Head Office Circular: NP/101/25

13^th June 2025

To: The Secretary

Branches and Regional Councils and relevant members

 

Dear Colleague

 

WEST MIDLANDS TRAINS 730 UNITS ENTRY INTO SERVICE BIRMINGHAM INTO LIVERPOOL

 

I recently received a report from the Lead Officer regarding safety concerns from RMT West trains representatives relating to the introduction of five car 730 units. The Company made some changes to address the reps concerns, however the reps felt these were insufficient to address the issues and therefore were not able to sign off the risk assessment process. 

 

Given this your National Executive Committee met on 30^th April 2025 to discuss the matter, on which occasion they noted and adopted the following report from their Health and Safety sub-committee:

 

We note the report from the lead officer regarding safety concerns from our representatives relating to the introduction of 730 units. 

 

Our representatives are unable to agree the risk assessment process and believe the company’s response does not address the issues. 

 

We instruct the General Secretary to arrange a meeting between the NEC, lead Officer, and relevant representatives to discuss the matter further. 

 

Members, branches and Regional Councils to be advised. 

 

The meeting as requested in the above decision, between the NEC, the RMT officer lead officer for the West Midlands and the relevant RMT representatives has now taken place.  As a result, at its meeting on 12^th June 2025, your National Executive Committee noted and adopted the following report from its Health and Safety sub-committee from when it met following the meeting with the RMT reps:

 

We note the report from the Lead Officer. 

 

After meeting the Lead Officer and the West Midlands Company Council, industrial and health and safety reps we are of the opinion that the Company’s response is not sufficient and that there are still outstanding health and safety issues which must be addressed. Given this we instruct the General Secretary to notify the Lead Officer that the Company is to be made aware that RMT are unable to sign off the five car Class 730/2 units at this stage. 

 

Relevant members, branches and regional council to be advised accordingly. 

 

I am acting in line with these instructions. Please bring this circular to the attention of all relevant members.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Eddie Dempsey

General Secretary