UK Rail Freight business shrinks and so does the workforce

The Independent reports that rail union TSSA was told yesterday that 530 jobs are to be axed (10% of their workforce) at Doncaster based rail freight company EWS.

TSSA general secretary Gerry Doherty said: "EWS has told us that its work has fallen off the cliff in recent weeks. Virtually all steel and car transporting has come to a near standstill.

Gerry and and RMT transport union leader Bob Crow have asked for urgent talks with Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon to protect the long-term future of rail freight.

Curiously, no-one points out that EWS - is the now privatised BR Freight ( EWS is a contraction and acronym for English Welsh & Scottish Railway Ltd Registered number 2938988. Registered office 310 Goswell Road, London EC1V 7LW ) which has been 100% owned by Deutsches Bahn the German State Railway Company since mid 2007. see - Monday, July 02, 2007 Krauts undertake railway robbery in daylight - CPNI examines it's arsehole

The consequences for the MOD of their £28 million 4 year Strategic Rail Capability and Mainline Rail Freight Services haulage contract contract to EWS - including maintenance of the MoD's wagon fleet in October 2007 are not immediately evident .see Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Hitler's dream fulfilled - MOD relies upon Deutsches Bahn for transporting - on time, every time.

At the time Brigadier Jeff Mason, Defence Supply Chain Operations and Movements (DSCOM) Director, said :"The national railway network is a vital strategic transport asset for MoD. We will take full advantage of it under this contract to continue to move by rail a wide range of armoured vehicles and material. Moving these items by rail saves on road transport costs and exploits MoD's existing rail assets. It also meets the MoD's commitment to greener issues."