RMT sounds safety alarm over 40% transport cuts

TRANSPORT UNION RMT today raised serious safety fears over rail maintenance as it emerged over the weekend that the transport budget is being lined up for cuts of up to 40% as the ConDem government tightens the screw on public spending.

RMT is warning that the scale of cuts being planned will savage maintenance and renewals work dragging the railways back to the chaotic and lethal conditions under the Railtrack regime that led to the Potters Bar and Hatfield tragedies.

The procurement of new rolling stock is being scrapped, fares are set to increase by up to 10% and developments like high speed and electrification are being shelved.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

"With cuts of up to 40% in the transport budget we are looking at thousands of job losses amongst the staff who operate and maintain services with dire consequences for passenger safety as corners are cut. It is crystal clear that modernisation and upgrade works will be axed with high speed, electrification and Crossrail all on the butchers block.

"With the government also planning to raise fares by up to 10% it doesn't take a genius to see that the state-funded racket of rail privatisation is being protected from the scorched-earth economics of the the ConDems.

"The public will be forced to pay through the nose to travel on condemned and crowded trains on creaking and dangerous track while the private rail companies are laughing all the way to the bank."