Grayling leaving train staff “to take the flack for failed policies”, says RMT chief

01 June 2018

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling is facing criticism from all sides after 12 days of mass train cancellations in London and Manchester, and RMT General Secretary Mick Cash has spoken out after transport staff were left to take the blame.

Thousands of trains have been cancelled or delayed since Sunday 20 May, with the chaos peaking on Wednesday 30 May when a massive 1,000 trains – one in eight of those scheduled – were affected in one day

Network Rail and the two rail operators involved – Govia Thameslink and Northern – have explained that “the sheer number of changes” to timetables and late-running engineering projects are at the heart of the disruption, despite having spent a year planning for the controversial alterations.

Passenger groups have warned that even if the switchover had gone smoothly, the timetable changes will lead to longer journeys, fewer trains, and higher fares in cases where people are left with no other option but to buy peak-time tickets.

Earlier this week, Grayling lashed out at Network Rail for the problems, saying it “cannot cope”, but passengers, staff, and politicians are pinning the blame on his department.

In response, the Minister agreed to meet with MPs whose constituents are affected for a short 90-minute meeting on Monday.

Labour MP Lisa Nandy tweeted: “I’m glad he’s finally agreed to meet us but I’m not convinced meeting dozens of MPs in just 90 minutes is sufficient given this is now a crisis.”

Mick Cash called for his resignation today, criticising him for “hiding” while rail staff are left to deal with the fallout.

“‎It is absolutely disgusting that those responsible for the carnage on our railways over the past 12 days – Chris Grayling and his private train company bosses – have dived for cover rather than face the passengers they have hung out to dry,” he said.

“Meanwhile my members, working at the sharp end of the cancelled and delayed services, are bearing the brunt of the public anger without a shred of support from Govia, Arriva or the Department for Transport (DfT).

“Not only is Chris Grayling incompetent and not fit to run a railway but he is a coward as well, leaving RMT members to take the flack for failed policies that are his responsibility.”

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, also held the Minister responsible, accusing him of being “asleep at the wheel”.

Elsewhere, Chair of the Transport Select Committee Lilian Greenwood described the crisis as a “complete shambles”, saying her panel would review the situation on Monday with the possibility of a full parliamentary inquiry in the future.

Stephen Trigg, of the Reigate, Redhill and District Users Association also wanted Grayling to be held to account.

He told the BBC: “Everyone I speak to from the train company is working extremely long hours trying to sort the problems out – but there’s not enough of them.

“The bid was put in with a very slim-line management team and that bid won, because that’s what the DfT wanted – a cheap bid.

“They need to put the money into the network.”