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European Conference of Rail Trade Unionists

Tolpuddle 2008

Tolpuddle Martyrs' Festival - Sunday, 20th July 2008
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The Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival on Sunday 20 July 2008 saw more trade unionists attending than ever. See pictures of the banners, read the report, click here.

Tolpuddle 2007

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We shall never forget what we owe them
Tolpuddle Martyrs' Festival 15 July 2007 report here

FGW Train Services

First Great Western Train services FirstGroup's rip-off railway:
* sky-high profits for Fat Cats;
* rocketing fare increases and;
* looming service cuts.

Stroud MP, David Drew is calling for First Great Western Train Services to be run in the public sector. Read Early Day Motion 1447 here and Early Day Motion 546here. Call on the Government to bring First Great Western back into public ownership. Contact your MP here and ask them to sign.

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Free Osanloo!

Take Action Today!
FREE OSANLOO - Support Workers' Rights in Iran! free_osanloo.jpg
International Transport Workers' Federation - ITF Global Action Day, 6 March 2008 - see photos here - to express solidarity with Iranian workers. Iranian bus workers' leader, Mansour Osanloo, is in prison on trumped-up charges of criticising the Iranian regime - in reality because he is a member of an independent trade union. We want Mansour Osanloo released safely, immediately and unconditionally.
* "Free Osanloo !"
* Wear the badge
* Find out more.

Resources

Banners Bright

Campaign News

No Beeching By Stealth!
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Protest At Train Services Cuts!
45 MPs have now signed EDM 311 - Updates here

Stop Lib Dem Cuts - Defend the Severn Beach railway line read more here.

LabourStart - union news around the world

Global Health & Safety news from Hazards and LabourStart

Act Now - online global union solidarity

November 18, 2008

Network Rail says profits down and seeks debt rating

Reuters: November 20, 2008

LONDON -- Network Rail said on Thursday its pretax profits fell 10 percent in the six months to end September to 706 million pounds, and that it was seeking a debt rating in the new year.

Continue reading "Network Rail says profits down and seeks debt rating" »

November 17, 2008

French rail strike to increase travel disruption

Daily Telegraph: 17 Nov 2008
By Oliver Smith

Visitors to France could face transport chaos this week as train drivers plan to join Air France pilots in a walk out.
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Around half of Air France's services have been cancelled since Friday Photo: GETTY

Continue reading "French rail strike to increase travel disruption" »

Rail group slams EC report on privatisation

International Freight Weekly: 14-11-2008

A new EC report into rail liberalisation has found many rail operators are happy with the current level of privatisation and want no further change.

Continue reading "Rail group slams EC report on privatisation" »

November 14, 2008

European railworkers march in Paris against rail liberalisation

AFP: 13 Nov 2008
By Elise THIRY-BOUVIER

Thousands of rail workers, from a dozen European countries, demonstrated in Paris on Thursday at the invitation of the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) against the railway policies of the EU and of the railway companies.
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RMT anti-EU protesters in Paris (Photo: Andrew Wiard )

Continue reading "European railworkers march in Paris against rail liberalisation " »

Train No. 30, the Capitol Limited, leaves Chicago's Union Station at 7.05 every evening for Washington, DC.

Financial Times: November 15 2008
By Matthew Engel

Should you miss this one, you can always catch another - at the same time tomorrow.

Continue reading "Train No. 30, the Capitol Limited, leaves Chicago's Union Station at 7.05 every evening for Washington, DC." »

November 12, 2008

RMT joins Paris protest against EU rail privatisation drive

RMT: November 12 2008

MEMBERS OF rail union RMT from across Britain will demonstrate in Paris tomorrow (Thursday 13 November 2008) as part of an international protest against European Union diktats demanding the break up and privatisation of rail networks in all member states.

Continue reading "RMT joins Paris protest against EU rail privatisation drive" »

November 11, 2008

Plan to extend £16bn Crossrail route

BBC News: 11 November 2008

The £16bn Crossrail project to build a 74-mile rail network across London could now be extended to north Kent.
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The rail link would connect London with Heathrow and north Kent

Continue reading "Plan to extend £16bn Crossrail route" »

Potters Bar rail crash: Support grows for our inquiry bid

Welwyn and Hatfield Times: 10 November 2008

SIX years ago, seven people were killed in one of the worst train wrecks of the modern era.
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Scene of the tragedy at Potters Bar railway station

Continue reading "Potters Bar rail crash: Support grows for our inquiry bid" »

November 07, 2008

Public funds running out for rail operators

International Freight Weekly: 07-11-2008
By James Falkner in Brussels

European rail operators might soon have to raise freight rates to pay for key infrastructure upgrades as public coffers have run dry.

Continue reading "Public funds running out for rail operators" »

November 06, 2008

Job losses at TfL will be resisted, says RMT

RMT: November 6 2008

ANY THREAT of forced redundancies of RMT members at TfL and London Underground will be resisted, the capital’s biggest tube and rail union said today.

Continue reading "Job losses at TfL will be resisted, says RMT" »

Germany's Partial Railway Privatization Derailed for Now

Deutsche Welle: 05.11.2008

Germany's trains tend to arrive relatively punctually, but plans to partially privatize the rail service have been postponed for the second time. The government blames global economic instability for the delay.
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The trains may still be running, but privatization plans have ground to a halt

Continue reading "Germany's Partial Railway Privatization Derailed for Now" »

Union leaders attack Britain's biggest bus group for putting profits before customers

Daily Mirror: 06.11.2008
By Clinton Manning

Britain's biggest bus and train company, FirstGroup, has been slammed for putting profits First and passengers last.

Continue reading " Union leaders attack Britain's biggest bus group for putting profits before customers" »

November 05, 2008

UK Government Spurns Call to Cover 1.4 Billion-Pound London Tube Deficit

Bloomberg: Nov. 5
By Brian Lysaght

The U.K. government dismissed Mayor Boris Johnson's call to cover a 1.4 billion-pound budget shortfall for London Underground, and the dispute may undermine the railway's upgrade program.

Continue reading "UK Government Spurns Call to Cover 1.4 Billion-Pound London Tube Deficit" »

Huge First Group profits an obscenity, says RMT

RMT: November 5 2008

FIRST GROUP and its shareholders are profiteering at the expense of passengers and transport workers, the industry’s specialist trade union said today as the group published its half-year figures.

Continue reading "Huge First Group profits an obscenity, says RMT" »

FirstGroup reports 44% profits rise

Press Association: 05 November 2008

Transport company FirstGroup reported higher interim profits and better-than-expected cost savings from its acquisition of US bus firm Laidlaw.

Continue reading "FirstGroup reports 44% profits rise" »

FirstGroup backs third Heathrow runway

Guardian: November 05 2008
Dan Milmo

One of Britain's largest public transport operators backed the case for a third runway at Heathrow airport today as it confirmed that bus and rail journeys are proving more recession-proof than airline trips.

Continue reading "FirstGroup backs third Heathrow runway" »

Nigerians halt $8bn rail deal with Beijing

Financial Times: November 5 2008
By Mure Dickie in Beijing

Shares in China Railway Construction Corp fell 18 per cent in Hong Kong yesterday on news Nigeria had suspended its $8.3bn contract to modernise a north-south line across the African nation.

Continue reading "Nigerians halt $8bn rail deal with Beijing" »

Executive Overview: World Railways

Jane's Information: 5 November 2008
By Ken Harris

Jane's provides an overview on world market developments in high-speed rail in 2008.

Continue reading "Executive Overview: World Railways" »

November 04, 2008

Privatisation goes on hold on both sides of the Rhine

Financial Times: November 4 2008
By Paul Betts

Governments on both sides of the Atlantic are rediscovering these days the virtues of national ownership as they continue to mount state bail-outs of their hard-pressed banking and insurance industries.

Continue reading "Privatisation goes on hold on both sides of the Rhine" »

November 03, 2008

Southern stations to get more night staff

BBC News: 3 November 2008

More railway stations in the South East are to be staffed at night and more will have ticket gates, the government has announced.
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The new franchise will include services currently run by Southern

Continue reading "Southern stations to get more night staff" »

Engineering body says rail funding figure is 'deeply worrying'

Building: 3 November, 2008
By Olivia Boyd

Government not giving Network Rail the investment it needs, says Association for Consultancy and Engineering

Continue reading "Engineering body says rail funding figure is 'deeply worrying'" »

FirstGroup’s US exposure proves a mixed blessing

Sunday Herald: 2 November 2008
By John Phelps

Laidlaw earnings boost profits while dollar’s strength deepens debt

ABERDEEN'S FIRSTGROUP will celebrate its arrival as the world's biggest public transport combine in mixed fashion on Wednesday. Sir Moir Lockhead is due to check in with news of sharply increased profits but he has seen his share price crumple to new lows.

Continue reading "FirstGroup’s US exposure proves a mixed blessing" »

November 01, 2008

Plan to speed up South Wales to London rail diversion shelved

Western Mail: Nov 1 2008
by David James,

PLANS to speed up the London to South Wales train line when the Severn Tunnel is shut have been shelved amid a cut in public funding for the railways.

Continue reading "Plan to speed up South Wales to London rail diversion shelved" »

October 31, 2008

‘Passengers prefer people to machines when buying tickets’

rail professional 9: november 2008
by Paul Clifton

Most rail passengers prefer to queue at ticket offices rather than buying their fare from a machine.

Continue reading "‘Passengers prefer people to machines when buying tickets’" »

German minister under fire over rail bonus row

Reuters: Oct 31, 2008
By Dave Graham

BERLIN - The German government on Friday defended Transport Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee against calls he resign because of his role in a row over bonus payments linked to the planned listing of national rail operator Deutsche Bahn.

Continue reading "German minister under fire over rail bonus row" »

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