From RMT | Photo Courtesy of RMT Union
RAIL UNION RMT calls for an end to continual cuts to rail maintenance and renewals after Network Rail was fined £6.7 million at the High Court in Aberdeen today (Friday, September 8) for safety failings which led to the Carmont disaster.
The company in charge of rail infrastructure in Britain admitted to health and safety failings over the rail crash at Carmont near Stonehaven three years ago which claimed three lives.
A Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) report concerning the train derailment caused by poor drainage work made 20 recommendations to improve rail safety which have been largely ignored.
Network Rail initially agreed to create drainage teams to deal with issues that caused the derailment but it has since abandoned the plans claiming that it does not have to do it.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said that although NR had admitted guilt over failings in construction, inspection and maintenance of drainage assets it was still planning widespread cuts to maintenance and renewals.
“The company has already effectively ignored most of the recommendations made by the RAIB and now it is cutting back on maintenance, renewals and drainage work.
“Instead of fining the publicly-funded body, Network Rail should be forced to halt the culture of continual cutbacks which will are inevitably leading to a more dangerous railway,” he said.
