Rail jobs, staff issues and training

NR launches ‘20 by 20’ scheme to inspire greater gender diversity in workforce

06.03.17: A new programme has been launched by Network Rail (NR), setting a target to increase the number of women working in the industry by 20% by 2020 in an effort to involve more women in the male-dominated workforce. The scheme, ‘20 by 20&...

RMT vote overwhelmingly in favour of strike against Merseyrail and Northern

28.02.17: RMT have today confirmed that they will take strike action against Northern and Merseyrail for their stance on driver-only operated (DOO) trains after their members voted overwhelmingly 81.8% in favour of the proposal.  Ballots op...

RMT calls for urgent talks with Southern to end guards dispute

24.02.17: Rail union RMT has called for urgent talks to be resumed with Southern in a bid to bring its long running dispute about guards on trains to an end after months of the bitter feud. The news comes as RMT executives prepare to meet next Tuesda...

Intertrain: ready for the future

23.02.17: RTM recently attended Intertrain’s ‘Driving for Success’ event in Doncaster, where leaders from major players such as Carillion and Babcock got together to celebrate the company’s latest cohort of rail apprentices. Luana...

Aslef members reject Southern deal as further strike looms

16.02.17: Aslef drivers have voted to reject a proposed resolution with Southern, therefore failing to put an end to the bitter 10-month dispute between the operator and rail trade unions.  The union’s referendum result comes a day after R...

RMT announce strikes as talks with ‘pig-headed’ Southern break down

15.02.17: Talks between Southern and rail union RMT broke down once again yesterday without either party being able to agree on acceptable terms, as it was announced today that there would be more strike action taking place next Wednesday 22 February.&nbs...

NTAR showcases VR tech training to rail minister

13.02.17: New virtual reality technology currently being used to train the next generation of engineers was put on show for the rail minister, Paul Maynard, when he visited NTAR’s Northampton base last week. NTAR provides up to 20,000 man days...

Aslef and GTR provisionally agree to end Southern row

02.02.17: Rail drivers’ union Aslef and Southern owners Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) have reached a provisional agreement which could potentially end the pair’s long-running dispute and relieve pressure on the beleaguered franchise. Asl...

Northern offers reassurance to RMT over DCO

27.01.17: The RMT union has received confirmation from Northern that the company is willing to guarantee the union a second staff member on board its trains. The union is now seeking a meeting with the company, run by Arriva Rail North, to come with...

Skills challenge: From strategy to action

24.01.17: Elaine Clark, manager of Rail Forum East Midlands (RFEM), explains how the region is already taking innovative action to tackle the national skills shortage. The skills shortages in the rail industry have been well documented for some time....

A one-industry call for skills development

20.01.17: At the launch of the new Rail Sector Skills Delivery Plan in December, key industry figures got together to outline how the major strategy will seek to address rail’s workforce gaps through clear, tangible and deliverable pledges. Luana Sa...

RMT agrees revised pay deal with Northern

18.01.17: The RMT has agreed a revised deal with Northern over worker pay, leading the union to halt its current vote for industrial action against the franchise. The rail union started balloting its members two weeks ago on whether they wished to ta...

Aslef offers to suspend Southern strikes for talks

17.01.17: The railway drivers’ union Aslef has offered to suspend its industrial action on Southern rail next week if the operator agrees to new talks hosted by the Trades Union Congress (TUC). Drivers were due to strike next week on 24, 25 and...

‘Saga of strike misery’ to continue as RMT plans 23 January action on Southern

12.01.17: The RMT has announced that guards on Southern will hold another 24-hour strike on 23 January as the union’s dispute with Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) presses on. The action marks the latest development in the long-running row over S...

RMT extends DOO dispute to Northern and Merseyrail

12.01.17: The RMT has widened its dispute with Northern Rail as it has given the franchise’s operator Arriva Rail North two weeks to clarify whether trains will retain their guards or risk dispute. The union is already balloting its members for...