29.06.15
No more sewage on rail tracks in Scotland from 2017
The commitment to end the practice of sewage being dumped straight onto the tracks in Scotland has been brought forward to 2017.
The RMT union said their representatives met with ScotRail management, Scottish transport minister Derek MacKay and Transport Scotland officials to negotiate an agreement on the issue.
The deal will see about 40% of the ScotRail fleet fitted with CETs (controlled emission tanks) by April 2016 with the remainder due to be fully fitted by December 2017.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "The fact the programme for the elimination of the filthy, disgusting and dangerous practice of dumping sewage on our railways is further advanced in Scotland is 100% down to the hard work and campaigning over several years by representatives, members and officials of RMT.
"Network Rail in Scotland are also in the process of arranging briefings to frontline maintenance staff and offering vaccinations to reduce the risk to staff from untreated human excrement which is another important development resulting from the RMT campaign.
"If real targets can be laid down for ending the scandal of sewage on our railways in Scotland then they can be achieved across the whole network. It's time for the train companies and the politicians to stop the excuses and get on with it."
A spokeswoman for ScotRail said: "We are pleased that, working with the unions, we have been able to bring forward our plans."
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