BREAKING NEWS: More than 500 jobs to go at rail freight group, union told

EWS, the Doncaster-based rail freight company, is to axe 530 jobs, rail union TSSA has been told today.

Around 8,000 rail freight services are normally operated every week by EWS across all parts of Britain and into Europe, powered by hundreds of locomotives.

TSSA said the company blamed the recession for a drastic cut in goods moving by rail for the decision to cut its workforce by a tenth.

Gerry Doherty, TSSA’s general secretary, and RMT transport union leader Bob Crow have called for urgent talks with Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon to protect the long-term future of rail freight.

Mr Doherty said: “EWS has told us that its work has fallen off the cliff in recent weeks. Virtually all steel and car transporting has come to a near standstill.

“We need to talk to Geoff Hoon urgently if we are to ensure that our freight industry survives this recession. The Government must act sooner rather than later.”