NETWORK Rail has been warned by the Railway Inspectorate that there is evidence of ‘systemic’ safety breaches in the way it carries out permanent way maintenance, and the RMT is calling for action to be taken.

An improvement notice has been served on NR about a lack of lookouts in the Welsh valleys, but the Railway Inspector said there was evidence of a more widespread problem.

The notice concerns lines between Cardiff Central and Rhymney, Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfill, and says Network Rail has contravened several regulations, including the Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems (safety) Regulations and the Health & Safety at Work Act.

It also says there appears to be a likelihood that these contraventions will continue. The Inspector added: ‘I highlight that this action is a result of findings of a proactive inspection programme. It should be noted that the failings identified are systemic in nature and are reflected in other formal Enforcement action taken by ORR during this and previous work-years in regard to Red-Zone working. As such, I draw your attention to the possibility that similar failings may be present in other Maintenance Delivery Units across all Routes.’

The RMT, which is vigorously opposing plans to reduce the maintenance workforce by 1500, is calling for the relevant managers to be prosecuted. The union's general secretary Bob Crow said: “When the Inspectorate is finding such fundamental faults it is time to call Network Rail's management to account, and if there are breaches of the law they should be in court facing charges.

"We have evidence of cuts in essential inspections and maintenance works the length and breadth of the country that mirror the situation in South Wales. When something goes wrong it is our members who are in the danger zone and we cannot wait for another tragedy like Tebay, in which four of our members were killed, before something is done.”

Meanwhile, Network Rail said: 'The RMT is misleading the public by taking the facts out of context. We do not tolerate any compromise on safety. Our people are required to strictly adhere to procedures to protect their lives while working on the railway. This principle has not changed and we have no plans to change it. We are taking this matter very seriously and are currently working with the ORR to investigate this matter. If RMT members wish to report concerns we urge them to use the industry's Confidential Incident Reporting & Analysis System, so that issues can be taken up without any prejudice.'