| Thousands of Network Rail redundancies under Labour's GBR plans Posted by TaplowGreen at 07:23, 15th January 2026 |     |
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/thousands-of-rail-workers-to-lose-jobs-under-labour-s-nationalisation-plans/ar-AA1Uc5JX?ocid=socialshare
I wonder what the Unions will have to say?
| Re: Thousands of Network Rail redundancies under Labour's GBR plans Posted by grahame at 08:35, 15th January 2026 | |
Thousands of rail workers are to be made redundant as part of Labour's plan to nationalise the railways.
Network Rail is making cuts to its workforce as it faces a budget shortfall potentially as high as £1.8bn, insiders said.
An estimated 2,000 employees out of the organisation's total headcount of 41,000 could be laid off in the coming months.
Network Rail is making cuts to its workforce as it faces a budget shortfall potentially as high as £1.8bn, insiders said.
An estimated 2,000 employees out of the organisation's total headcount of 41,000 could be laid off in the coming months.
The Q$64,000 for me is "what will/would happen to their work" is it happens.
Would someone else take it over from within the remaining 39,000?
Would the work remain undone and a backlog be generated?
Is there work that is no longer needed being done by these people?
Would things like speed standards be reduced so that less maintenance is needed?
Would AI and other automation take over?
Would the network be reduced / part passed to local operators to take on maintenance staff?
Would the work they do still be done but by private contractors?
Does the goverment's plan actually consider these issues?
| Re: Thousands of Network Rail redundancies under Labour's GBR plans Posted by ChrisB at 09:45, 15th January 2026 | |
Might be rationalisation of back office?
| Re: Thousands of Network Rail redundancies under Labour's GBR plans Posted by Mark A at 10:53, 15th January 2026 | |
I'm hoping it doesn't impact NR's effective 24/7 helpline.
Anecdote not data: being spooked by something, after new year, I had cause to ring that number close to 11pm on a Sunday night and it was answered, by a person, within a few seconds. No interminable sequence of hold music interspersed with an upbeat voice repeating 'Your call is *very* important to us' which is what I heard when at NR's request I also rang the organisation immediately responsible for the structure in question.
Mark
