PAME expresses its sorrow over the fatal train collision between Luton and Bedford, reportedly due to a problem in the safety system, which cost the life of a train driver and resulted in the injury of dozens of passengers and railway workers.
This tragic incident once again highlights the criminal consequences of the policy of profit, liberalisation and commercialisation of railway transport, and their tragic impact on the lives of workers and passengers, where safety is treated as a “cost”, something that was also confirmed in Greece with the crime of Tempi.
We demand a full investigation into the causes of the collision. We strengthen the struggle everywhere against the policy of liberalisation, privatisation and commercialisation of the railways, promoted by all governments, both within and outside the EU, in the name of profitability and competitiveness.
We fight for modern, safe, regular, affordable and exclusively public railway transport, with sufficient staff, infrastructure and all necessary systems to protect the lives and safety of workers and passengers.
We express our heartfelt condolences to the family and colleagues of the deceased train driver, as well as our solidarity with the RMT and ASLEF unions. We wish a speedy recovery to all those injured.