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<p>The Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail, published May 2021, identified six key problems
with our railways:</p><ul><li>The rail sector too often loses sight of its customers,
both passengers and freight;</li><li>It is missing opportunities to meet the needs
of the communities it serves;</li><li>It is fragmented, and accountabilities are not
always clear;</li><li>The sector lacks clear strategic direction;</li><li>It needs
to become more productive and tackle long-term costs;</li><li>It struggles to innovate
and adapt.</li></ul><p> </p><p>There are outdated working practices preventing passengers
getting the service they pay for and deserve and making the railway cost more than
it should to run. To provide funding for an affordable pay rise, we need to leave
these outdated working practices in the past and create a railway fit for the future.</p><p>
</p><p>For instance, under an agreement dating back to 1919, Sunday working is voluntary
for most of the railway, leaving operators short staffed and unable to cope with the
surge in popularity for weekend travel post-pandemic. Whilst working practices in
track maintenance are years behind other sectors and prevents us running the best
possible train service.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>
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