National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers (RMT)

Old rail depot will service local trains, says expert

2012-02-04T22:08:02Z

Bristol Evening Post: 4 February 2012

A rail depot at St Philip's Marsh near Bristol Temple Meads station will still have a future, despite planning permission being given for a new depot at Stoke Gifford, according to rail campaigners.

]]> The depot at St Philip's Marsh is used to maintain and park high-speed 125 trains which operate between Paddington, the West Country and South Wales.

But these outdated diesel-powered units are due to be replaced by Hitachi-made electric trains in 2016/17 after the mainline is electrified in a £4.5 billion Government scheme.

The door to electrification was opened on Thursday when South Gloucestershire councillors gave permission for the new rail depot at Stoke Gifford to go ahead despite an outcry from residents who live nearby.

They are worried about fumes, noise, air pollution and stray light affecting the quality of their lives.

But the councillors imposed a raft of conditions as part of the planning consent to protect the residents.

Rail campaigner Dave Redgewell, pictured, said St Philip's Marsh, where about 150 staff are based, is crucial to providing local rail services. He said a depot would still be needed to park and maintain trains which operate on local services after the new depot at Stoke Gifford is built.

He said: "Updating our stations and track is all very good but the other part of the equation is looking after the rolling stock and that's why rail depots are so important."

Next year, the franchise to operate trains on the mainline between Paddington and the West Country will be renewed.

It is currently operated by First Great Western.

Whichever company wins the franchise, then the contract would include the St Philip's Marsh depot as well as use of the Hitachi electric trains from 2016 or whenever they become available.

Hitachi will run the depot at Stoke Gifford and provide the electric trains on a daily rental to the franchisee.

The track and depots are owned by Network Rail which, in effect, means the Government.

It might come to pass at some point after the mainline is electrified that local lines also get overhead wires to run electric trains. If this happens, then the electric trains for local services would probably be based at St Philip's Marsh.

The need for the St Philip's Marsh depot might become even more crucial if electrification provides further improvements to local services such as the Henbury Loop being opened up.

Last year, the Government announced that the new franchises will run for a minimum of ten years and up to 22 years.

But train companies will have to meet tougher performance criteria to avoid being stripped of a franchise.

And companies which walk away from a franchise because it is not profitable will face bigger financial penalties.

The move has been welcomed by the rail industry, which says it will give companies more incentive to invest.

Most rail franchises are currently let for seven or eight years.

The new rail depot at Stoke Gifford will use a 44-acre triangular site near Parkway Station.

Councillors gave their consent after planning officers recommended approval.

Link to Bristol Evening Post site

Engine derails on West Coast main line at Bletchley

2012-02-03T23:59:22Z

BBC News: 3 February 2012

A freight train engine has derailed on the West Coast main line at Bletchley leaving no services running between London Euston and Milton Keynes.

]]> There are major delays for rail passengers with London Midland, Southern and Virgin rail services all affected.

London Midland has advised passengers not to travel as all lines are blocked.

However, tickets are being accepted on Chiltern, East Midlands and First Capital Connect services.

Network Rail had initially hoped two of the four lines would be cleared by "early" afternoon, but at 15:30 GMT work was still continuing to repair damage to the tracks.

Driver injured

The Freightliner engine, being operated on behalf of Virgin trains, derailed at Bletchley south junction shortly before 02:30 GMT.

The driver was the only person on board and is being treated for injuries.

The engine was not pulling any freight or carriages.

The engine is upright but blocking the line, and damage to the running tracks and overhead power lines has been reported.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch is conducting an investigation.

Robin Gisby, from Network Rail, said that although they hoped to clear two of the lines later, services would still be affected.

"It is likely that severe disruption will continue for the remainder of the day as we work to repair the more significant damage," he said.

"Unfortunately there is quite substantial damage to the tracks and overhead lines."

Engine 'on loan'

Southern services are only running between Croydon and Watford Junction, Virgin and London Midland services are not running south of Milton Keynes, but London Midland is running between Bletchley and Bedford.

Nicola Moss, from London Midland, said: "We do strongly advise passengers not to travel if at all possible.

"But anybody who can get to Bedford for First Capital Connect services or over to Wellingborough for East Midlands Trains services or west to Aylesbury for Chiltern Railway Services, can use our tickets on those trains.

"Network Rail and the freight company are working really hard to get the line clear but that is unlikely to be before lunch time."

A spokesperson from Virgin Trains said the engine was on loan to the company in order to haul some of its older trains.

Passengers are being advised to consult National Rail Enquiries if they intend to travel.

Link to BBC News site

Link to BBC News site video

Thousands of commuters left in cold after Bletchley derailment

2012-02-03T23:56:09Z

Metro: 3 February 2012 by Matthew Champion

Thousands of commuters found themselves unable to get to London after a freight train derailed overnight on one of the country's busiest lines.

]]> The Virgin Trains electric locomotive came off the tracks on the West Coast main line at Bletchley in Buckinghamshire in the early hours with the driver, the only person on-board the train, sustaining minor injuries.

The Milton Keynes to London Euston line was completely closed until 3.40pm on Friday, when Network Rail announced the opening of two out of four lines.

'2 of the 4 lines now open at #Bletchley! Well done to @networkrailstaff for achieving this in such short notice,' National Rail Enquiries' Twitter account tweeted.

London Midland, Southern and Virgin Trains all advised passengers to seek alternative routes while the line was being cleared.

Although the line is now partially open, speed restrictions remain in place while engineers evaluate why the freight train came off the tracks.

'We still advise passengers to avoid travelling to/from London if possible and are extremely sorry for the obvious inconvenience,' London Midland said on its website.

British Transport police meanwhile have urged people to avoid Euston station altogether if they can due to overcrowding.

The disruption is expected to continue into the weekend as well, as heavy-lifting equipment needed to restore the train to the tracks cannot be called in until the cause of the crash is established.

Passengers face double disruption from the threat of heavy snow this weekend across England, with temperatures plummeting on Friday.

Robin Gisby, Network Rail managing director, commented: 'Unfortunately there is quite substantial damage to the tracks and overhead lines following this morning’s incident.

'Our engineers have been on site since the small hours to assist investigators and are now carrying out repairs to the tracks and overhead lines which have been damaged.'

Link to Metro site

Government power to curb Network Rail bonuses 'limited'

2012-02-02T23:47:04Z

BBC News: 2 February 2012

The UK transport minister has told MPs that the government's powers to prevent bonuses at Network Rail are "limited".

]]> It comes as Network Rail's chief executive is under pressure to reject a potential £340,000 bonus.

Former Labour transport minister Tom Harris has tabled a motion calling on Sir David Higgins to turn down any payment.

Network Rail confirmed a meeting would be held later this month to decide on the structure of the bonus scheme.

Mr Harris, a Glasgow MP, also wants other directors at the firm to reject bonuses of more than £200,000.

Sir David's annual salary is £560,000, with other directors at Network Rail (NR) earning £338,000.

In the Commons motion, signed by 27 other MPs from his party, Mr Harris said Network Rail had been "found by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) to be in breach of its licence and that, according to the ORR, 'major asset failures, congested routes and poor management of track condition' contributed to poor performance of the UK rail network in 2011".

Following the ORR's ruling in December last year, Transport Secretary Justine Greening said: "We have been repeatedly clear that bonuses should only be awarded for exceptional performance.

"Passengers would be extremely surprised if NR attempted to award bonuses next year in the light of this action by the ORR."

But UK Transport Minister Norman Baker told MPs that the government's powers to prevent bonuses at Network Rail were "extremely limited".

Speaking during a Commons debate, Mr Baker said ministers recognised the concerns about Network Rail's governance - and said the government looked to the Office of Rail Regulation to hold the company to account.

He added: "We expect bonuses to be dealt with responsibly and sensibly by Network Rail."

Mr Harris's motion claimed that National Rail's members, at their meeting on 10 February, would be asked to confirm annual bonuses for directors "equivalent to 60% of their annual salary, resulting in a £340,000 bonus for its chief executive".

The motion calls on the company's directors "to reject these bonuses".

Teenager deaths

But a Network Rail spokesman said "no decision has been made on bonuses" and the meeting would "decide the shape of a scheme".

He added: "That does not mean a bonus will be paid. It will decide on a mechanism.

"Just like any other private company, the final decision will by made by the remuneration committee."

On Tuesday, Network Rail admitted health and safety breaches over the deaths of two teenagers killed at a level crossing.

Olivia Bazlinton, 14, and Charlotte Thompson, 13, were hit by a train in 2005 as they crossed the tracks at Elsenham station footpath crossing in Essex.

The firm also faces prosecution over the 2007 Grayrigg train crash in Cumbria in which one passenger died.

Link to BBC News site

Network Rail admits safety breaches over girls' deaths

2012-01-31T23:59:50Z

BBC News: 31 January 2012

Network Rail has admitted three health and safety breaches over the deaths of two girls at an Essex level crossing in 2005, a court has heard.

]]> Olivia Bazlinton, 14, and Charlotte Thompson, 13, were hit by a train as they walked over train tracks at Elsenham station footpath crossing.

Lawyers at Basildon Magistrates' Court said Network Rail would plead guilty.

Chris Bazlinton, Olivia's father, said the plea showed the family had been misled.

Mr Bazlinton, 63, from Farnham, Essex, said: "I am glad that Network Rail has pleaded guilty to what after all are criminal charges. It proves that we have been lied to over the years.

'Cover up' claims

"I believe there are still many specific questions about what happened which are still unanswered, and generally about why the revelations only emerged over the past 12 months, six years after the accident."

Network Rail said it would plead guilty to failing to carry out a sufficient risk assessment, failing to properly control protective measures at the level crossing and failing to prevent the girls from being exposed to the risks which led to their deaths.

Sentencing will take place at Chelmsford Crown Court on 15 March.

Sir David Higgins, chief executive of Network Rail, said: "Last year I apologised in person to the families of Olivia and Charlotte. Today, Network Rail repeats that apology.

"In this tragic case, Network Rail accepts that it was responsible for failings, and therefore we have pleaded guilty."

In February last year, it emerged a Network Rail risk report from 2002 had recommended new gates that locked automatically as trains approached.

Journalist Mr Bazlinton said the failure to disclose the document for so long amounted to a "cover up".

"I have no doubt Network Rail will change their procedures to ensure that action is taken when problems arise, and to avoid a cover up happening again," he said.

"But I think this should be transparent and open. I want to know what they are going to do to change the way they report on accidents and how they account for them."

Olivia and Charlotte were killed on 3 December 2005. The crossing was fitted with warning lights and yodel alarms.

A London to Cambridge train passed over the crossing with the red lights and yodel sounding - a warning for foot passengers not to cross.

Christmas shopping trip

After the train passed, the lights remained on and the alarms continued to sound as another train, travelling from Birmingham to Stansted Airport, in Essex, was going to pass through the station.

The girls, who were about to catch another train for a Christmas shopping trip to Cambridge, opened the unlocked wicket gates and walked on to the crossing. They were both struck by the Stansted train and killed.

Outside court, Reg Thompson, Charlotte's father, said: "The horror of that day is always with us and the huge hole in our lives left by Charlie will never be filled.

"In the aftermath of the accident, Network Rail claimed the girls had acted recklessly and that somehow their youthful exuberance led directly to their deaths.

"I never believed that they were the architects of their own terrible end. It has taken six years to reveal the truth of what happened."

Safety features, including locked gates, were introduced in the summer of 2007.

In November last year, the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) announced that it would prosecute NR over those deaths after reopening its investigation into the accident.

The criminal case came after the Transport Salaried Staffs Association joined the girls' families in demanding a public inquiry amid claims that two safety documents were not disclosed to the Essex Coroner at the 2007 inquest into their deaths.

The inquest jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

Link to BBC News site

Shrinking wage pool costs workers £60bn a year

2012-01-30T20:53:14Z

TUC: 30 January 2012
The falling proportion of national output that goes on wages has meant that UK workers today are taking home £60bn a year less (in today's money) than workers did 30 years ago, according to a new report published today (Monday) by the TUC.

]]> The finding is published in the latest TUC Touchstone Extra pamphlet All In this Together? which looks at how the recession and ongoing economic weakness has had an impact on different parts of the workforce.

All in this Together?, written by author and academic Stewart Lansley, documents the scale of the real terms pay cuts and downgraded terms and conditions that employees are facing, and warns that UK workers are at risk of a near-permanent lowering in the pattern and nature of their working conditions, with disastrous potential consequences for our future economic health.

The report shows that earnings took a sharp hit during the recession - dropping from an average increase of 4.2 per cent in 2007 to just 1.7 per cent in 2009 - and there has been no post-crash rebound. In September 2011, nearly two years on from the end of the recession, 99 per cent of pay deals were below RPI inflation - the measure most commonly used in setting pay.

At the same time the pay gap between executives and their staff has continued to widen, the report shows. While in 2000 the ratio of FTSE 100 top executive to typical employee pay stood at 47:1, by 2011 it had risen to 102:1.

But while poor earnings growth and increasing earnings inequality has been well-publicised in recent years, All in this Together? also shows that the UK's total wage pool has been shrinking for more than three decades.

In 1978, the total UK wage bill represented 58 per cent of GDP. By 2011 this 'wage-output' ratio had dropped to 53.8 per cent. The 4.2 per cent fall in wages as a share of national output means that UK workers took home £60bn less in 2011 than if the wage-output ratio had stayed at 1978 levels. Cumulative wage losses over the last three decades are approximately £1.3 trillion.

The falling share of wages as a proportion of national output has contributed to the rising household debt, plastered over in good times by a housing boom and easy access to credit, that helped to cause the recent financial crash, says the TUC.

The falling wage share has been particularly acute for those on low and middle incomes. The wages of the poorest fifth of workers in 2011 are 43 per cent lower than they would have been if the wage share had not fallen since 1978 and the distribution of earnings had not been skewed towards higher earners. Workers on middle incomes have experienced a 36 per cent wage loss, while the richest fifth of earners have had a wage loss of just six per cent.

The only group of workers immune from the UK's shrinking wage pool have been top execs who have weathered the recession and stock market falls to receive median pay increases of 10 per cent in 2010 and 17 per cent in 2011.

The fact that those at the top have been taking ever greater share of the UK's shrinking wage pool explains the frustrations people have about excessive pay that politicians are only just starting to consider, says the TUC.

While the depth of the recession raised the wage-output ratio in recent years, the Office for Budget Responsibility has predicted that it will drop even further by 2016, hitting living standards and causing a further drag on the economy. The TUC wants the issue of lost earnings to be addressed by making wage growth a far bigger part in the government's economic strategy.

Decent wage rises are the only sustainable way to drive consumer confidence and spending, says the TUC. Ministers can start by investigating where Britain's lost wages are going, and whether there are ways of encouraging this money to be redirected back into people's pay packets.

More collective bargaining, investment to boost workers' skills, stronger corporate governance including action to crack down on top pay, and encouraging the growth of well-paid jobs beyond financial services and the City would all help to address the UK's lost wages crisis, says the TUC.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'Over the last three decades workers have become more productive and yet they have been rewarded with an ever smaller share of the wealth they've created.

'The tens of billions of pounds that workers miss out on each year has been papered over by rising credit card bills and a housing boom, but the financial crash has brought home the reality of our shrinking wage pool to millions of workers and their families.

'Our current squeeze on living standards could be alleviated if the share of our national wealth that goes on wages started to return to the levels seen three decades ago.

'Low and middle income earners are understandably angry that have borne the brunt of Britain's lost wages while those at the top are completely immune.

'Politicians need to recognise lost wages as a key cause of the recent financial crash and start taking steps to ensure that a greater share of our national wealth goes to all of those that help create it, rather than a few at the top.

'Wage-led growth, based on greater collective bargaining, better skilled workers, better corporate governance and a broader base of well-paid jobs, is the only way to generate a sustainable economic recovery that everyone benefits from.'

Report author Stewart Lansley said: 'The falling real wage share over the last 30 years helped cause the recent crash by sucking demand out of the economy and making us more dependent on spiralling debt.

'The sustained falls in real wages of the last two years are exacerbating the demand deficit, and digging Britain into an even deeper hole.'

To coincide with the launch, the TUC has launched an online - incomes-tracker - for people to work out how much they would be earning if the wage-output had stayed at 1978 levels. It shows for example that a worker earning £20,000 today would be earning £31,300 if the wage-output ratio had stayed the same, an effective pay rise of over 50 per cent.

Follow the link below to see the table of the annual wages gap and further information and links
Link to TUC site

Bristol Save our Railways - No to McNulty

2012-01-29T16:07:27Z

RMT Bristol will be leafletting commuters at Bristol Temple Meads on Thursday 2nd February 2012 in both the morning and evening peaks. All members are invited to join us.

The public need to know that McNulty is all about protecting private companies profits by cutting front line staff.

The Government has said the Greater Western Franchise will follow the McNulty Report recommendations and this will enable privateers to sack Guards, Station Staff and close Booking Offices throughout the region.

IT IS TIME TO FIGHT BACK.

]]> Links on this site:

What is the McNulty

Save our railways, save our job

Links on the RMT national website:

Home page

McNulty Review

Nationwide Campaigning Day of Action, Thursday 2nd February 2012

Save Our Railways latest briefing on McNulty

Paying for Privatisation: RMT briefing on the McNulty Report into the Railways

David Cameron backs Nazi-scandal Tory's anti-union campaign

2012-01-24T23:54:52Z

Daily Mirror: 23 January 2012 by Tom McTague

David Cameron is backing an anti-trade union group set up by Nazi scandal Tory MP Aidan Burley.

]]> The PM has sent a personal message of support to him endorsing his Trade Union Reform Campaign.

The TURC will rally against facility time, which allows union reps to carry out their duties during work hours.

But the TUC said: “If they make progress on this, they’ll move on to attacking maternity rights and protection against unfair treatment.”

The TURC has links to the right-wing Young Britons’ Foundation, whose chief has called for the NHS to end.

But campaign director Mark Clarke dismissed the connection, saying: “There isn’t a real link... apart from the fact I’m involved in both. We’re not trying to roll back the powers [of] the unions.”

Mr Burley quit as an aide after attending a stag do with guests dressed as Nazis.

Link to Daily Mirror site

SAVE OUR RAILWAYS, SAVE OUR JOBS - NO TO McNULTY!

2012-01-23T23:37:21Z

RMT day of action in Bristol on Thursday 2nd February
McNulty proposals are part of the Greater Western Franchise being put out to tender NOW. It states it wants to remove Guards, Catering Staff, Station Staff and Booking Offices. It also insists on more jobs being removed from the Maintenance and Operations of the railway network.
It is time to fight back and warn the public of the fact that McNulty’s proposals put profits before a safe public railway. It is time to fight for YOUR jobs.

]]> THURSDAY 2nd FEBRUARY 2012 - BRISTOL

As many of you will know, the Government has started the process of letting the new Greater Western Franchise to replace the current First Great Western Franchise. This will have massive implications on all our lives, whether we currently work for FGW or not. The overriding force behind the new franchise is the McNulty Report.

The McNulty report states that the railways as they currently are are very expensive and his opinion is that to save costs, the amount of frontline staff must be cut. He states that he believes that no trains from 2013 should have a Guard, he does expect any kind of Catering provision to be required and advances in technology will nearly eliminate not only Platform Staff and Booking Offices, but also staff to maintain and operate the infrastructure and trains.

To fight back, we must make the public aware of what is about to happen to their public service. To do this RMT will be holding a day of action in Bristol on Thursday 2nd February. We intend to hand out postcards to the commuters to inform them of what is to come. These postcards are then sent to their MPs and show that the public are aware of the potential disaster that the government are pushing through. This has proved to be a very successful tactic in the past and we intend to keep informing the public of the greedy profiteering of the railway companies, while their fares are rising faster than inflation every year.

We need as many members as possible to help with this campaign as we intend to invite the press along to see how we can fight for our public transport and our jobs. We would like to campaign at Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway for both the morning and evening peaks, but this will depend on the amount of volenteers we can get. Even if you can only spare 15 minutes, it would help, and allow us to show any potential bidders for the new franchise, we are not going to roll over and die for them. WE WILL FIGHT FOR OUR JOBS.

For details of how to get involved, please contact Gary Abbott e-mail bristolrail@rmt.org.uk or telephone 07817 762712

Travel chaos strikes London commuters

2012-01-17T23:54:13Z

Morning Star: 17 January 2012

Thousands of rail passengers suffered travel chaos today after stolen cables and a cracked rail led to huge disruption on some of the country's busiest routes.

]]> Services into London's Waterloo station - used by around 250,000 passengers a day - were heavily delayed by the two early-morning incidents.

A cable theft in the Basingstoke area knocked out controls. Engineers rushed to make repairs which they completed shortly after 7am.

A hairline crack was spotted in the rails near Vauxall - just outside Waterloo - in the early hours of the morning.

The damage caused the line to be shut all day as due to the heavy use of nearby track repairs could not be carried out until this evening, a Network Rail spokesman explained.

Link to Morning Star site

Indonesia concrete balls combat 'train surfing'

2012-01-17T23:24:46Z

BBC News: 17 January 2012

Railway staff in Indonesia have started hanging concrete balls above train tracks to try to prevent commuters from riding on carriage roofs.

]]> The first balls were installed just above carriage-height near a station outside the capital, Jakarta.

More will be put up elsewhere if they are found to keep people off the roofs.

Previous attempts to deter roof riders included spraying roofs with paint, spreading oil on carriages and hiring musicians to perform safety songs.

Correspondents say those initiatives have failed. Officials hope that the latest move will prove to be the ultimate deterrent.

Roof riders also face the possibility of imprisonment.

Electrocuted

The balls - which can deliver a severe blow to the head - will be suspended a few inches above the tops of carriages at points where trains enter or pull out of stations, or where they go through crossings.

Officials told the BBC that "roof surfing" can be extremely dangerous. In 2008 at least 53 passengers died in an accident while travelling on a train roof. In 2011, 11 people were killed.

Most victims are electrocuted by overhead power cables, but some fall off train carriages while trains are moving.

The BBC's Dewi Safitri in Jakarta says that passengers on train roofs can be seen every morning and evening. At peak times about 400,000 commuters cram in or onto carriages to travel into and out of the centre of Jakarta.

While tickets are cheap by Western standards, poorer people struggle to pay which is why they go on the roofs, correspondents say.

The main problem, commuters say, is just how crowded the trains are. Reports say some ticket holders also end up on train roofs because there is no room inside.

Officials say they have tried everything to stop the problem - and even put rolls of barbed wire on train roofs - but nothing has worked.

Officials say that if the latest initiative is successful, the project will be expanded.

But the "roof surfers" themselves told the Associated Press news agency that they are determined not to be put off.

"I was really scared when I first heard about these balls,'' said Mulyanto, 27, who rides daily between his hometown of Bogor and Jakarta almost every day for work.

"It sounds like it could be really dangerous. But I don't think it will last long. They have tried everything to keep us from riding... but in the end we always win.''

Indonesian trains run on often poorly maintained tracks left behind by Dutch colonisers 60 years ago.

Critics say that the problem of "roof surfing" will never be completely ironed out until there are fewer delays and enough trains to meet demand.

Link to BBC News site

Rally for your railway

2012-01-17T20:18:53Z

BADACA:

Facing our railway are cuts, cuts and more cuts. The McNulty report will lead to massive attacks on our local railways. Come to meeting to learn more and get involved in a local campaign to fight back.

]]> Public Event: Thursday, 19 January 2012 19:00 at Council House, College Green.
7:00pm until 9:00pm
Committe room 15

Speakers include
Bill Monteith - TSSA
Bernard Kenedy - ASLEF
Steve Tyler - First Great Western
John McInally - BADACA
Ian Craweford - TFGB
Mark Bradshaw - Labour Group transport spokesperson Bristol City Council
Brendan Kelly - RMT

Click for more details

Link to Bristol & District Anti-Cuts Alliance (BADACA) site

Work begins on railway line between Sharpness and Oldbury

2012-01-14T23:54:45Z

BBC News: 14 January 2012

Work has started on a new heritage steam railway line in Gloucestershire.

]]> The Beaver line, which stands for Berkeley Vale Railway, will link tourist attractions and businesses between Sharpness and Oldbury Power Station.

The project is being led by Pro Active Vision, a community group made up of steam enthusiasts and local businesses.

Conservative MP for Stroud Neil Carmichael is helping them to secure community funding.

He hopes the investor-led project will benefit from a donation from the government's new Coastal Communities Fund.

He said: "This is an interesting way of thinking about developing a part of the constituency, and I think it should be given the appropriate support. Obviously there will be challenges but the overall objectives are absolutely perfect."

'Interesting idea'

The line will work both to transport the goods of local businesses and link tourists with local attractions such as Sharpness docks, Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Berkeley Castle and the Jenner Museum.

Mr Carmichael added: "Local people - a community group - are getting going with a really interesting idea and a business as well. Linking both of those together and making it possible for people to travel up and down on a steam train would be absolutely fantastic."

The land, which has been leased to Pro Active Vision by Network Rail, is being cleared across the four-mile wide area and track is being laid.

The group's David Heathcote said a lot of the infrastructure is already in place.

He said: "The branch line is already there and it's running, albeit not in brilliant condition, and it will take very slow trains. The rest of the infrastructure is very flat land with ease of being able to put a new light railway development down at a very, very low cost."

Mr Heathcote added that due to a surplus of rolling stock around the country and a lack of heritage lines, he is confident he can find trains and carriages to run on the line.

He said: "Very many people have rolling stock around the country - there are a lot of enthusiasts about. So there is a great deal of this rolling stock that doesn't get a chance to be operated in this heritage railway scenario."

Link to BBC News site

Branch Meetings 2012 (updated)

2012-01-14T23:50:33Z

COME ALONG TO YOUR RMT BRISTOL BRANCH MEETING ...
19.00 hours - dates and locations as show below

]]> Monday 20th February - Branch Meeting, The Parkway Tavern, Stoke Gifford

Monday 19th March - Branch Meeting, The Ship Inn, Redcliffe, Bristol

Monday 16th April - Branch Meeting, The Parkway Tavern, Stoke Gifford

Monday 21st May - Branch Meeting, The Ship Inn, Redcliffe, Bristol

Monday 18th June - Branch Meeting, The Parkway Tavern, Stoke Gifford

Monday 16th July - Branch Meeting, The Ship Inn, Redcliffe, Bristol

Monday 20th August - Branch Meeting, The Parkway Tavern, Stoke Gifford

Monday 17th September - Branch Meeting, The Ship Inn, Redcliffe, Bristol

Monday 15th October - Branch Meeting, The Parkway Tavern, Stoke Gifford

Monday 19th November - Branch Meeting, The Ship Inn, Redcliffe, Bristol

Monday 17th December - Branch Meeting, The Parkway Tavern, Stoke Gifford

The Branch Annual General Meeting will take place in December. Further details will be announced later in the year.

Branch meetings will alternate between The Ship Inn, Redcliffe and The Parkway Tavern, Stoke Gifford.
Branch meetings start at 7pm, to finish at 9pm. All regular monthly meetings normally take place on the third Monday of every month.

All RMT members are warmly invited to attend Branch meetings. If you can’t attend regularly, then just come when you can! We always try to make new members welcome.

Elected Staff Representatives and Health & Safety Representatives are particularly encouraged to attend. Representatives are an important part of the Branch and we rely on them to know what is happening in the workplace. The Branch is also a useful source of advice and resources to help you in your work as a representative.
We are building up a very strong network of reps across all areas of the railway and our ability to give you support can depend on the strength of the working relationship that is built through the Branch with workplace reps and activists.

Any member can ask for items to be discussed at a branch meeting. But please don’t wait until the night of the meeting! If you wish to raise an item at a Branch meeting, please contact Branch Secretary, Gary Abbott bristolrail@rmt.org.uk or Branch Chair, Chris Davidson chris_e_davidson@live.co.uk before the meeting. We are happy to advise you on the best way to take your item up at the Branch meeting.

We have a Branch of more than 1000 members from Bristol and surrounding areas. We are now one of the biggest and most influential RMT Branches in the union.

As an Industrial Union RMT organises all grades and job titles in all departments across the rail industry - and this is a strength that only RMT can give you.

Make sure your workplace is 100% RMT !

SUPPORT YOUR BRANCH - Get Help Organising Your Fellow Workers !

Contact: Secretary, Gary Abbott
Mob: 07817 762712, or Email bristolrail@rmt.org.uk

Network Rail to be prosecuted over Grayrigg crash

2012-01-13T23:55:53Z

BBC News: 13 January 2012

Network Rail is to be prosecuted over the Cumbrian rail crash at Grayrigg in which one passenger died.

]]> The Office for Rail Regulation (ORR) said it had started criminal proceedings for a breach of health and safety law.

Margaret Masson, 84, from Glasgow, died after the Virgin train derailed on the West Coast Main Line in February 2007.

In November, an inquest jury found poorly-maintained points were to blame for causing her death.

The train went over a "degraded" set of points at 92mph and careered down an embankment, leaving 88 people injured, including two members of the train crew.

Network Rail is facing a charge under section 3(1) of the 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act.

'Thorough investigation'

The ORR said: "This results from the company's failure to provide and implement suitable and sufficient standards, procedures, guidance, training, tools and resources for the inspection and maintenance of fixed stretcher bar points."

The stretcher bars keep moving rails a set distance apart.

ORR railway safety director Ian Prosser said: "We have conducted a thorough investigation into whether criminal proceedings should be brought in relation to this derailment which caused the death of Mrs Masson and injured 86 people.

"Following the coroner's inquest into the death of Mrs Masson, I have concluded that there is enough evidence, and that it is in the public interest, to bring criminal proceedings against NR for a serious breach of health and safety law which led to the train derailment."

He said his thoughts were with Mrs Masson's family and it would try to ensure the prosecution proceeded as quickly as possible.

Mr Prosser said: "The railway today is as safe as it has ever been but there can be no room for complacency.

"The entire rail industry must continue to strive for improvements to ensure that public safety is never put at risk."

The first hearing is due to take place at Lancaster Magistrates' Court on 24 February.

Network Rail managing director of network operations Robin Gisby said: "Network Rail has not hidden from its responsibilities - the company accepted quickly that it was a fault with the infrastructure that caused the accident.

'Substantial changes'

"We again apologise to Mrs Masson's family.

"Since the derailment Network Rail has worked closely with the authorities, conducted comprehensive and detailed investigations and made substantial changes to its maintenance regime."

Soyab Patel, the solicitor representing Ms Masson's daughter Margaret Langley, said: "I am not surprised at this course of action taken by the Office for Rail Regulation.

"Indeed it would, having regard to the evidence that came out at the inquest, seem to me to be an appropriate and necessary consequence."

Craig Johnston, regional official of the Rail Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said: "I don't believe any lessons have been learned from Grayrigg because the ORR is calling for more cuts in jobs.

"We've also failed to get the public inquiry that we have been campaigning for."

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