On the eve of tomorrow's Grayrigg anniversary, RMT also renewed its pleas for an end the 'contract culture' still prevalent on the railways, and for a reversal of funding cuts that had resulted in tighter targets and increased workloads and pressure on front-line maintenance staff.

"The improvement notice served on Network Rail's inspection regime last December made it clear that experienced track-inspection staff were being hampered by systematic management failings," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

"The contract culture, budget cuts and slashed targets mean that there remains too much emphasis on getting things done quickly and cheaply rather than properly and safely.

"Despite shabby attempts to point the finger of blame elsewhere, Network Rail's own investigation into Grayrigg and the interim accident report both pointed clearly to management failings and lack of resources.

"We need an inquiry into Potters Bar and Grayrigg with a remit that will include the structure and continued fragmentation of the industry

"I have no doubt whatsoever that such an inquiry will conclude that the fragmentation and contract culture have to go, and that the railways need a single command structure and proper control over both operations and infrastructure," Bob Crow said.

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