Rail job cuts 'a hammer blow' to industry

UNION leaders have described news of fresh job losses among rail contract workers as a "hammer blow" to the industry.

The Rail Maritime and Transport union said it had been told that Thales will axe 80 jobs, including roles in Edinburgh, blaming "business challenges" and a cut in orders. Around 220 members of staff are now at risk of losing their jobs in depots at Edinburgh, Glasgow, London Waterloo, Cheadle, Crawley, York and Ashford, said the RMT.

General secretary Bob Crow said: "This latest hammer blow to the UK rail industry makes a mockery of the Government's claims to be investing in our railways.

"These are skilled workers who face the prospect of being dumped on the dole because of the shambolic management of the UK's rail infrastructure."