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RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: may 2021 :: RMTnews
RMT has called for a full
investigation following the
discovery of cracks in Class
800 Series Hitachi trains. The
vast majority of GWR’s fleet
and a significant number of
LNER and TransPennine
Express trains have been taken
off the network to undergo a
full and rigorous inspection,
after checks of the Hitachi
fleet this month first identified
cracks on part of the chassis of
some trains.
RMT general secretary Mick
Lynch said that Hitachi needed
to ensure the highest safety
standards and properly
investigate and rectify the
issues.
"This situation
demonstrates once again that
it is reckless for the rail
companies and the
Department of Transport to
move the industry to diluted,
risk-based maintenance
regimes which extends
maintenance cycles on rolling
stock or on the infrastructure,
whether that be on the
mainline railway or on the tube
and metro services, to cut
costs and strip out staff.
"The railway needs to be
maintained rigorously and to
the highest possible standards
to protect the travelling public
and the staff and that will
remain RMT's key demand."
The government has also
asked the rail industry to
urgently set out a
comprehensive plan to resolve
prolonged disruption following
the discovery of cracks in Class
800 Series Hitachi trains.
Hitachi will also be
expected to set out a
comprehensive inspection
regime guaranteeing that
safety is prioritised, building
on the work that is already
underway.
The independent safety
regulator, the Office of Rail
and Road (ORR), will be
closely involved in overseeing
this work, providing
confidence to staff and
passengers, while also helping
to ensure any issues are
rapidly resolved.
The rail industry has also
been asked to set out a plan
for how it will manage
capacity, by moving rolling
stock and proposing where
alternative trains can be
sourced and to deliver a clear
rail replacement schedule,
including additional bus and
coach services that will be in
place to help alleviate
disruption.
UNION CALLS FOR ROLLING
STOCK INVESTIGATION
RMT says discovery of cracks in Hitachi trains exposes
dangers of extended rolling stock maintenance cycles