Rail industry comment on the Enabling Framework Agreement
Comment on the Enabling Framework Agreement between trades unions and rail companies, which was published earlier today.
Steve Montgomery, Chair of the Rail Delivery Group, said:
“The railway faces unprecedented challenges. The Covid-19 pandemic has led to the biggest drop in passenger numbers since records began, with government providing hundreds of millions of pounds of taxpayer funding every month to keep train services running.
“To build back a railway which is sustainable in the long-term and addresses changing passenger needs, we must change the way we work and not take more than our fair share from the public purse. Britain’s railway and rail workers have played a critical role during the pandemic and together with the rest of the country, we all thank them for their contribution. Like any industry hit by the pandemic we face tough choices, we have to adapt and we want to retain as many jobs as we can.
“This agreement between rail companies and trades unions allows for further discussions about how we can create a future for the railway which responds to the changing needs of passengers and supports all parts of the country to thrive as we rebuild.”