2 November 2022
RMT Press Office:
Rail union RMT attacked train operators and the government for their failure to address systemic problems in the railway network, staff shortages and train cancellations this week.
The union put the blame for the recent spate of rail cancellations on relying on staff volunteering for overtime because they have not recruited enough railway workers.
TransPennine Express (TPE) cancelled over 150 trains in 3 days and is currently in a long running industrial dispute with RMT over conductors pay and conditions.
One rail operator CrossCountry claimed that there were not enough drivers to run their normal service.
However, RMT members highlighted the issue of a lack of properly trained staff.
CrossCountry in a moment of panic, decided to put staff on a training course in instead of working on the network, further jeopardising services.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "Britain's broken privatised model has been exposed for being completely inadequate to the needs of running a modern railway.
"Companies that making huge profits from the industry and charge exorbitant fares to passengers, are trying to blame staff for their short comings.
"The railway has a chronic shortage of staff and runs on goodwill and overtime.
"Only by removing the private companies and having a fully joined up nationalised railway system consulting with the rail unions, can we begin to have an efficient railway fit for the 21st century.
"Instead, the government intends to cut billions of pounds from the network while continuing to allow private companies to make millions of pounds in profit from the railways."
END
Unity House
Tel: 020 7387 4771
Email: