ON THE tenth anniversary of the Paddington rail crash, transport union RMT has called upon the government to mark the date by intervening to stop planned cuts in Network Rail maintenance which have put 2500 jobs, nearly 20% of the workforce, at risk.

On the 5th October 1999 31 people died and dozens were injured just outside of Paddington when two trains collided after one passed a poorly sighted red signal. The tragedy, along with disasters at Hatfield and Potters Bar, was a key factor in the breakup of Railtrack and the handing of rail infrastructure to the not-for-dividend Network Rail.

But now Network Rail, under heavy financial pressure, is looking at major cutbacks. 28% of the rail renewal programme has already been deferred and now serious maintenance staffing reductions, including on track, signaling and overhead lines, are being discussed with RMT union representatives.

RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today:

“Ten years after Paddington our thoughts are once again with the friends and relatives of those who died on that morning and with those who still suffer today from the injuries they suffered in the tragedy.

“We all welcomed the demise of Railtrack but we now see the successor, Network Rail, facing massive pressure to cut budgets and it’s track renewals and maintenance work that are taking a real hit.

“RMT has repeatedly demanded that the risk assessments associated with these cuts be published and put in the public domain and we have warned Network Rail that the dash for savings increases the risk of another Paddington, Hatfield or Potters Bar. Those warnings have come directly from our members whose job it is to keep the tracks, signals and overhead lines safe and they cannot be ignored.

“RMT would urge the government mark the tenth anniversary of the crash at Paddington by intervening to reverse the Network Rail maintenance and renewals cuts and deferrals programme.”