Rail (BREL) last year, and its previous managing director described it as the most efficient waggon works in Europe. The first railway in the world ran through Shildon, and three or four generations of local people lave worked there.
BREL getting enough orders from BR's locomotive, Las ycal. canade and waggon fleets were reduced. The waggon fleet alone is to be further slashed from 132,000 to 4U.UU ane next three years. Shildon Works has no orders for 1983.
By contrast BREL has received f50 million worth of new export orders supply coaches Kenya and 124 waggons to Southern Ireland.
times year's railway The unions are well aware that BR has a lower level of investment per train kilometre than any other European country. Some 98 per cent of diesels and 60 of electrics in BR's fleet of 10.000 are over years old. Just to replace them means an increase of 30 per cent investment in the next ten years. This is not happening. us icau. ment is going down and the rail subsidy for this year has been reduced by £15 million.
NUR members should ensure the union carries out les inreal or strikc al tion to save Shildon and Horwich and put an end to any further job losses in the workshops. We must get resolutions through our oracle. calling for support for the action beBRu *HORWICH OUR Town. www