THERE are fresh hopes of resolving the disputes which threaten Easter train services, following the news that talks between Network Rail and the RMT are moving to the conciliation service ACAS.

One dispute involves 13,000 maintenance workers, who are protesting at the loss of 1,500 jobs, and other could lead to action by 6,000 signallers in a separate argument over flexible rostering. The RMT has announced that its strike ballot of signallers resulted in a majority of 54% in favour of walking out.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow maintains the real issue is safety. He said: “Nobody should be under any illusions about just how determined RMT members are to win our fight against Network Rail’s cuts programme and to stop the reckless gamble with rail safety.”

However, Mr Crow’s claims have been dismissed by Network Rail chief executive Iain Coucher.

Mr Coucher told Railnews: “Does anyone really believe that I and the rest of the Network Rail Board would allow safety be compromised? Of course not. And even if we tried, the Office of Rail Regulation is monitoring us very closely, and it is right that it should do so. It is true that the ORR had some concerns about our new maintenance plans, but we are bottoming those out.

“Network Rail must become more efficient. People want a better, larger and more cost-effective railway. And a railway that is safe. We don’t compromise on that, and we won't. But the RMT is demanding indefinite guarantees of no redundancies – ever. That’s not a promise I can make, committing us for decades to come. No company could that.”

Mr Coucher added that of the 1,500 job losses, 400 have already gone through natural wastage, and a further 1,000 have volunteered to go. “So that leaves just 100 jobs to be discussed. We are doing everything we can to find alternative work for people who are displaced, but sometimes we can't reach agreement, perhaps because they are not willing to travel further to work each day. But I have told the RMT there will be no compulsory redundancies this year.

“These strikes would serve no purpose. We can find a resolution to both disputes through discussion. But the RMT has been reluctant. It wanted to get a favourable strike ballot first, before sitting down to talk. It's the way it works.”

The RMT has said its Executive will make a decision about industrial action on Thursday, which would be just in time to give the required seven days’ notice of any strikes over the Easter weekend.