Fallen glass exposes Government's Northern powerhouse myth

A picture taken today (attached) has exposed once again the myth of the Government’s rhetoric about a “Northern Powerhouse”, laying bare the reality of rail services that are crumbling and dangerous after years of profiteering by private rail companies and under-investment from central government.

The sign in the picture shows that an area around the Gents toilet on Platform 4 at Carlisle Citadel Station is cordoned off due to falling glass onto the station platforms (picture taken today around 6.40am).

RMT reps were assured before the election that an inspection had been done of the roof and blue covers appeared on the roof areas where there was a clear risk of falling glass onto the station platforms (the roof now resembles a patchwork quilt) but now it seems the problem has got worse since then and uncovered areas would now seem to be affected. RMT had been raising concerns about the condition of the roof for years.

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:

“We won’t be seeing a procession any time soon of Government ministers in suits and hard-hats inspecting the collapsing structure which has dumped glass across Platform 4 at Carlisle Citadel Station as this scandalous situation exposes once again the hot-air and rhetoric of their “Northern Powerhouse” claims.

“Yet again the warnings from RMT reps have been ignored leaving the structure as a danger to both passengers and staff alike. RMT will continue to expose the reality of two decades of profiteering and underinvestment which has reduced our railways to this shocking state.
 
“Today we are demanding assurances that all affected areas have been covered and made safe - it appears that the area above the toilets on platform 4 wasn't covered – and we also need assurances that the remedial action taken previously was sufficient to ensure the safety of passengers and staff working on the platforms below.

“Those are purely temporary measures pending the kind of serious investment that is required to brings this station, and the rest of our rail infrastructure, up to an acceptable standard.”

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