Call for "21st Century Railway" after services cancelled

RAIL UNION RMT today called for investment in a 21st Century Railway after Cross Country cancelled services out of Dawlish due to high tides and wind pressures on the sea wall.

The issue is that the Voyager trains are unable to pass through Dawlish during high tide and high winds as the waves cut the power on the trains.

General Secretary Mick Cash said;

"Once again the South West is ill-served by the rail network due to a fundamental flaw that should have been solved years ago. If we invested the profits ripped off from the network by the private train operators we could have a railway that's genuinely fit for purpose in the 21st Century."

"RMT recognises the importance of putting safety of passengers and staff first but there is simply no excuse for failing to address infra-structure and fleet issues that could keep services moving."