ITF: 25 February 2010

Alexander Kirchner, President of Germany’s Transnet union and ITF Executive Board member, has protested to the Thai government over its treatment of the State Railway Workers’ Union of Thailand (SRUT).

In a letter to Thailand’s Ambassador to Germany he registered his concern over the way the SRUT is being sidelined and its pleas for the reinstatement of sacked members ignored.

Continue reading "Transnet President approaches Thai govt over railway workers’ rights" »

Posted at 09:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Times Online March 9, 2010

Bob Crow said he wasn't Mystic Meg but he wouldn't book rail travel for Easter
Philip Pank, Transport Correspondent

Easter rail travel is under threat from three industrial disputes which could halt trains in the first national rail strike for 16 years.
Signalers, maintenance staff and supervisors are all poised to strike in disputes over job losses, pay and changes to working practices.

Continue reading "Britain poised for first national rail strike in 16 years" »

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RMT: March 1 2010
Letter to RMT Members

Dear Colleague,
Further to previous correspondence I write to advise members that we have given Network Rail notice of our intention to ballot all signalling and associated supervisory grade members for strike action and action short of a strike. The dispute centres on the following issues:-

Continue reading "Rostering, Compliance with PTR&R and Delivery of T3 Possessions" »

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Times Online: March 5, 2010
Robert Lea Industrial Editor

Shares in Arriva, the train and bus group, went into reverse today, down 14.5p to 555.5p, after talks over a merger with Keolis, the French group, were called off.

Continue reading "Arriva calls off talks over French merger" »

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RMT: March 3 2010

RAIL UNION RMT today demanded an immediate halt to plans to axe up to 1500 safety-critical rail maintenance jobs as the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) issued a damning report highlighting four major areas of concern over the plans and calling for a suspension of their implementation.

Continue reading "RMT calls for immediate halt to rail maintenance job cuts as regulator raises fears over safety" »

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The Guardian: 4 March 2010

Office of Rail Regulation criticises Network Rail's recent performance, saying too many passengers were left in the dark about services during the prolonged cold snap in January

Continue reading "Rail watchdog raises safety fears over maintenance plans" »

Posted at 03:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

RMT: March 2, 2010
Personal Letter to RMT Members at Network Rail

Dear Colleague,
I have received disturbing reports from a number of members that Network Rail is cancelling annual leave over March and April 2010. I have written to Network Rail expressing my disgust at this policy and asking that annual leave be reinstated over this period.

Continue reading "Reorganisation of Network Rail" »

Posted at 03:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

New Zealand Rail And Maritime Transport Union: 28 February 2010

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) is using an open day at Hutt Rail workshops today to urge KiwiRail to back the New Zealand workforce and ‘buy kiwi made’ in its upcoming locomotive and wagon procurement.

Continue reading "Build Our Trains At Home, Say Rail Workers" »

Posted at 10:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

ITF: 5 February 2010

The head of a delegation that investigated problems for workers’ on Thailand’s state railways has reacted angrily to news that conditions and morale have deteriorated further

Continue reading "ITF signals further breakdown on Thai Railways" »

Posted at 10:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Irish Independent: January 16 2010
By Tim Healy

Irish Rail claimed yesterday its human resources director was a "law unto himself" amid new claims he had placed tracking devices on employees' cars to see where they went.

Continue reading "HR boss put tracking device on workers' cars, court told" »

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IFW: 13-01-2010
By Damian Brett

DB Schenker Rail has acquired a majority stake in Italian rail freight operator NordCargo.

Continue reading "DB Schenker Rail takes majority stake in NordCargo" »

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RMT NEWS RELEASE: December 21, 2009

TRAIN DRIVER Alex Gordon has been elected to serve as the President of RMT, Britain’s biggest specialist transport union, for the coming three years.

Continue reading "Alex Gordon is elected as RMT President" »

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Daily Mail: 31st December 2009
By Ray Massey

'Highway robbery': Train fares are to increase by 15 per cent

Continue reading "'Rip-off ' rail firms accused of hiding 15% fare increases" »

Posted at 01:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Financial Times reports ('Review ordered into rail franchising', December 29 2009) that UK Transport Secretary, Lord Adonis has commissioned private consultants KPMG as part of a wider review into rail franchising by next summer when competition for rail contracts begins.

Continue reading "Adonis commissions private consultants KPMG to work out how to save UK govt's rail franchising system" »

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Morning Star: 23 December 2009
by John Millington

Rail signallers in south Wales will stage six more days of strike action next month, followed by an overtime ban, over the imposition of roster changes by Network Rail.

Continue reading "Signals out in south Wales as workers plan more strikes" »

Posted at 10:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Press Association: 17 December 2009

The operator of the CrossCountry rail franchise has said that there had been a "substantial improvement" in passenger revenues in recent weeks.

Continue reading "Arriva reports rail revival" »

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RMT: 16 December 2009

Paul Flynn, Member of Parliament for Newport West and a member of RMT's Parliamentary Group of MPs has put down an Early Day Motion EDM 482 in the House of Commons in support of RMT Signalworkers who are on strike against Network Rail's assault on their terms and conditions. An Early Day Motion is a petition MPs sign to highlight issues of concern to their constituents. So far 5 MPs have signed EDM 482 (Paul Flynn, Katy Clark, Colin Burgon, Jeremy Corbyn and RMT Parliamentary group convenor, John McDonnell). If your MP has not yet signed EDM 482 please ask them to do so by writing, faxing or emailing their office. You can contact them automatically by clicking the link: Write to them.com. Don't delay - Do it today!

Continue reading "EARLY DAY MOTION 482 IN NAME OF PAUL FLYNN, MP BACKS RMT SOUTH WALES SIGNALLERS STRIKE" »

Posted at 01:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

ShareCast: 15 December 2009

LONDON - Bus and train group Go-Ahead expects interim profits from its rail business to halve though its bus business is doing better.

Continue reading "Go-Ahead rail arm under pressure" »

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Rail-news: December 11, 2009

RAIL UNION RMT today confirmed solid support for six days of strike action by a group of signalling staff in the Wales and the Marches Operations area – starting first thing Monday morning – over the imposition of rosters at the new South Wales Control Centre due to open in January 2010.

South Wales Control Centre: one of Network Rail's new 'Signalling Factories'

Continue reading "Six days of strike action" »

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The Korea Times: 12-13-2009

Kim Ki-tae, head of Korean Railway Workers' Union, has been arrested for leading an illegal strike waged by Korean Railroad (Korail)'s labor union.

Continue reading "Head of Railroad Union Arrested" »

Posted at 08:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

RMT BRISTOL RAIL - Fighting Network Rail Job Cuts

CALLING NOTICE: Day of Action
Thursday, 17th December 2009 from 07.00-09.30am

• BRISTOL TEMPLE MEADS
• BRISTOL PARKWAY

Continue reading "Rail cuts cost lives" »

Posted at 11:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ananova:

Train buffs are facing jail after building their own ramshackle locomotive and taking it on the public rail network.

Ramshackle loco /Europicss

Continue reading "DIY train buffs go loco" »

Posted at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

RMT SW&W Regional Council has called a STRIKE SUPPORT MEETING

WHEN: Thursday, 10th December 2009
WHERE: Cardiff Transport Club - 59-61 Tudor Street, Cardiff
SPEAKERS: RMT Executive Committee, Alex Gordon
Commencing at 18.30hrs

Continue reading "Network Rail Wales & Marches, Signallers’ Dispute - Public Meeting" »

Posted at 01:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Financial Times reports (December 7 2009) that National Express is to appoint Dean Finch, boss of London Underground maintenance company Tube Lines and former chief operating officer of rival bus and rail operator FirstGroup as its chief executive.

Continue reading "Finch joins National Express sinking ship" »

Posted at 01:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

International Freighting Weekly: 7th December 2009
Tony Berkeley

European Rail Freight Association president Tony (Lord) Berkeley sees liberalisation of European rail freight as a political issue - one that the 'liberalisers' are losing as EU rail directives lead to the consolidation of major freight operators and the emergence of an oligopoly - "a market dominated by a few large suppliers".

Continue reading "Extinction looms for the private operator" »

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