Main menu:
“They’re Crackers – It’s Bonkers” – Johnston 26.02.09
Craig Johnston the RMT Council of Executives member for General Grades in Manchester and the North West of England has strongly attacked the decision of Network Rail to defer work on track renewals while it finds ways of doing it more cheaply.
Speaking two years after the Grayrigg crash that killed pensioner Peggy Masson Mr Johnston described the decision to delay track renewals as “Bonkers”.
He told the Carlisle based News and Star “Network Rail has inherited a private sector culture of getting the job done quickly and cheaply rather than safely and properly. They are proposing to cut track inspections, the very thing that caused Grayrigg”
He added “you couldn’t make it up they’re crackers. Its bonkers”
Network Rail also admitted to the News and Star that some routine inspections that used to take place weekly, are now carried out once a fortnight.
Mr Johnston also re-iterated the RMT call for a full public inquiry into Grayrigg and another derailment at Potters Bar in Hertfordshire where seven people died in 2002.