Ahead of his meeting with Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon, RMT general secretary Bob Crow welcomed the government’s commitment, and emphasised the lasting damage that planned cuts by EWS could do to the economy and the environment.

“The government’s announcement today is welcome because it places environmental concerns squarely alongside economic ones,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

“Railfreight has a critical role to play for Britain’s future economic and environmental wellbeing, but we are facing a massive short-term threat that must also be met with support and action.

“The job losses we are facing at EWS have the capacity to inflict long-term damage which we hope the government will not contemplate allowing to happen.

“The company’s response to the market downturn is disproportionate in any case, but it also runs counter to Britain’s long-term economic and environmental interests.

“If the recession is allowed to erode essential rail-freight capacity it will be a huge setback in the battle to reduce carbon emissions.

“Once we start losing trains and hubs the long-term cost of re-investing will be far greater than emergency intervention now,” Bob Crow said.