Network rail to cut 1,800 maintenance staff

Network Rail has said it will have to slash 1,800 staff from its maintenance crew after its budget was cut by the regulator.

The cull is expected to be completed by April 2011 and Network Rail said it hopes there will be no compulsory redundancies.

'We have a clear commitment to the British people to reduce the costs of running the railway,' it said in a statement, saying the moves to cut back headcount are part of a restructuring that will improve the way it operates its network.

Network Rail, which currently employs 33,000 staff, said its budget for the next five years has been trimmed by £4 billion.

Earlier this year, Network Rail told its contractors, including Jarvis, that work under its track renewals programme will be ‘significantly reduced’ in the year to March 2010.

Union leaders reacted angrily, saying the deferral of more than a quarter of its renewals programme could affect the safety of passengers.

Earlier this week, Network Rail unveiled plans to build a high-speed railway line linking Scotland and London by 2030, which it said would cost the taxpayer £34 billion.

The government is now considering whether to back the plans.