TSSA ridicules government rail digital signalling claims as ‘jam tomorrow'

TSSA General Secretary, Manuel Cortes, has dismissed as “jam tomorrow” claims by the government to be investing £1bn in digital signalling on the railways. 

Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, said the cash would be used to ‘replace unreliable Victorian infrastructure with cutting edge technology’. That was ridiculed by Cortes who accused Shapps of a making a “non- announcement” as the systems were already due to be replaced. 

Commenting, TSSA General Secretary, Manuel Cortes said: 

“Shapps promising jam tomorrow while implementing cuts today will fool precisely no one.  

“Fewer trains are now running on our network than before the pandemic with even more cuts in the pipeline, including the closure of ticket offices at stations up and down the land. 

“Frankly, if outdated signalling systems weren't being replaced, it would be a surprise. Much of this infrastructure dates from the 1970s and ‘80s and is increasingly not fit for purpose. 

“So this non-announcement is part of the wider Tory strategy of deceit, lies and fabrications. They hope they can take the British public for fools, but it simply won't wash.” 

*TSSA is currently balloting members over strike action and action short of a strike in a dispute over jobs, pay and conditions at several rail companies – Network Rail, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, West Midlands Trains, Avanti West Coast, Northern, LNER, Southeastern, Great Western Railway, C2C, Greater Anglia and TransPennine Express.