Network Rail Boss: Strike Wouldn't Derail Us

12:03pm UK, Tuesday March 09, 2010

Peter Hoskins, Sky News Online

The man in charge of Britain's rail system has told Sky News that Network Rail would be able to cope with a walkout by maintenance staff.

Boss confident full service could run without compromising safety in event of strike

Speaking on Jeff Randall Live, Network Rail chief executive Iain Coucher said plans are in place to deal with the impact of a threatened strike.

"The strike may happen - we hope it won't - but we have contingency plans in place and we are fairly optimistic that we'll be able to run an interrupted service," he said.

"Two years ago we had similar strikes for four days and trains ran perfectly, so we're optimistic we can deal with that but I can absolutely assure you we will not take risks with safety."

Iain Coucher on Jeff Randall Live

The comments came just days before the RMT rail workers union is expected to announce the outcome of a strike ballot.

If workers vote in favour of industrial action Britain's railways could be hit by a walkout over Easter.

It would be the first national railway strike since 1996.

Unions have been angered by Network Rail's plans to cut 2,500 jobs.

The move is part of a shake up of the rail system aimed at saving £4bn over five years to 2014.

Network Rail currently employs 35,000 across the country. It runs 2,500 stations across 21,000 miles of railway lines.