Union accuses Network Rail of ‘reckless’ maintenance cuts
The RMT has claimed that Network Rail’s ‘Modernising Maintenance’ programme and reductions in staffing were the real cause of major disruption at Manchester Piccadilly after 400m of overhead wires on the station throat had been damaged earlier this month. Services at Piccadilly had to be suspended after a wire had broken on the morning of 16 April, and did not return in full until 11.00 on the 19th, after engineers had worked day and night to repair the damage.
DfT and committee MPs clash over 'tension' in Railways BillThe government has refused to amend the Railways Bill to clarify the relative powers of the transport secretary and Great British Railways. The Commons Transport Committee had said that the proposed law should be changed to iron out ‘potential tension’ between the DfT and GBR.
Network Rail reveals ignorance about crossing dangersYounger adults aged between 18 and 34 are putting themselves at risk when using level crossings, according to the results of a survey released by Network Rail today. Eight out of 10 of those who responded claimed to know what they are doing when they need to cross a line, but at the same time it appears that ignorance is bliss. Distraction is the greatest danger. This includes talking to companions (28 per cent), wearing headphones (26 per cent) and using a mobile (24 per cent).
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