Posted 27th August 2009 | 5 Comments

1,800 jobs to go under Network Rail maintenance changes

Rail welding, part of track maintenance

NETWORK Rail is to restructure its maintenance operations and will cut out 1,800 jobs by April, 2011.

The company is to eliminate track maintenance jobs as it applies £4 billion of efficiency savings — required by the Office of Rail Regulation — over the next five years,

The job cuts are equivalent to five per cent of Network Rail’s 35,000-strong workforce, spokesman Chris Mitchell told the Bloomberg news service.

“We are looking at restructuring our maintenance program to make it more efficient,” Mr Mitchell explained.

The UK Press Association reported that Network Rail said new technology and improved standards would allow it to prevent faults as well as eliminate delays to trains.

Network Rail said it hoped to avoid any compulsory redundancies and managers were discussing the plans with trade union representatives.



Reader Comments:

Views expressed in submitted comments are that of the author, and not necessarily shared by Railnews.

  • anon, Bristol

    Network Rail have made more cuts than stated above - around 90% of which have been compulsory redundancies. I am 35 weeks pregnant and worked as a Project Commercial Assistant for almost 3 years. 2 weeks ago I was made redundant. Network Rail have not honoured any maternity payments or done anything to help me secure a new job. They do not care about their staff members and simply want to save money. I am now facing the next few months on benefits and will have to move into council accommodation because of Network Rails behaviour. Morally, what they have done to me and several hundred memnbers of staff is disgusting. And yet the Unions and the government have allowed them to do it.

  • Ambreen, london, UK

    I HATE Unions, be done with them!!!!!

  • Rob J, Perth, Australia

    Do I detect sour grapes John T? I've worked as an overhead lineman for various contractors and Network Rail before recently moving to Australia.

    The maintenance function is a different ball game to construction and projects / small works and as the operational and 'maintenance' function were the only functions to be taken back in-house and the ORR made massive budget cuts due to Gordon Brown spending Britain into bankruptcy, then obviously Network Rail will look to start culling jobs as would any contractor if the work dried up.

    This is not a case of who takes the glory. If you don't like the work then go and do something different. Any good contractor would add project success with the likes of Network Rail to their portfolio to showcase their capabilities. As for noone to speak for contractors? I think you will find the major rail contractors have union recognition and bargaining agreements.

  • leslie burge, leicester, england

    I agree with the sentiments expressed by John T of Cardiff.
    Too often these guys are sitting around in vans reading newspapers and there doesn't appear to be anybody with ba--- to deal with them.

  • John T, Cardiff

    Cuts to Network Rail Maintenance staff has been coming most of the dirty work has been carried out by agency and contract workers when Network Rail workers are cuddled up in their cosy vans,to many times agency and contract workers have had no mention in the hard work for basic pay and have had no-one to speak for themselves when Network Rail have taken all the glory,welcome to the real world guys.