Network Rail has announced it is to make 269 track renewals staff redundant over the next five years, because their work is being handed over to private contractors as part of an efficiency drive.
NR’s business plan for Control Period 7 (CP7, April 2024-March 2029), published in May, had warned of a lower workload for its outside engineering team.
The total number currently employed is 794, but increasing numbers of vacancies are not being filled, and the final number is expected to fall below 300.
While the Office of Rail and Road advised back in June that NR should increase its spend on core assets by £600 million, this money is expected to come from rephasing work programmes or shifting expenditure from less important areas.
A Network Rail spokesman said: “We know there’s going to be lower demand for the specialist track renewal services as we invest in our infrastructure in other ways, and we’ve begun consulting with our colleagues and trades unions on changes to restructure and re-size some of our teams accordingly.”
RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch has criticised NR’s “slash and burn” policy, declaring: “The industry needs to be developing its skills base, not outsourcing the work to privateers. We have seen the impact of de-skilling on our railway network, and a decline in safety.”
NR has already presented its outline plans in its CP7 report for saving 15% on renewals over the next five years by changing its practices, and 10% on operations, support and maintenance -a total of around £3.4 billion.
It has spoken of “strategic initiatives” covering technology, contracting and engaging with the supply chain,
