8 December 2023
RMT Press Office:
RAIL UNION RMT has written to Network Rail and the Scottish and Westminster governments over deep concerns the union has with relentless cost-cutting that is threatening the safety of passengers and rail workers and the performance of the network.
Rail workers are already reporting an increasing number of broken rails and recent high-profile faults which affected The Elizabeth Line and Eurostar services have highlighted the state of ageing infrastructure yet Network Rail are cutting costs in its latest spending plans.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch warned that the government seemed hell-bent on underfunding the railway to such an extent that it compromises the safety, resilience and reliability of our railway for the next five-year period and my union will not stand idly by whilst this dangerous managed decline takes place.
“My union surveyed maintenance members working at Network Rail about the impact that funding cuts to infrastructure are already having following the confirmation of the cuts to the renewals budget and the results are nothing less than startling and shocking.
“The litany of major rail crashes including the deadly derailment at Carmont last year caused by poor infrastructure maintenance are a testament to what can happen through lack of investment and continual cost-cutting, the government is gambling with people’s lives,” he said.
Ends
Notes to editors
RMT letters to Network Rail and politicians are attached
Unity House
Tel: 020 7387 4771
Email: