Network Rail announces cuts of about 5% of its workforce

Network Rail plans to cut about 5% of its workforce, mainly in the lower management pay bands 1 to 4; according to the article the restructuring affects around 41,000 lower-management employees, and individual consultations have begun. The background is the Department for Transport's requirement to stay within the £3.9 billion (about €4.5 billion) budget for the 2024–2029 funding period, and reallocations in favour of data and safety systems, lifts, escalators and passenger information at stations. The RMT union had agreed a pay deal with a 3.8% rise a week earlier; there was no union reaction yet to the job cuts (LOK Report, 22 Jan 2026).