
1985
NATIONAL UNION OF MINEWORKERS STRIKE ENDED

DAILY EXPRESS
MARCH 14th 1985
SAVINGS PLAN IS COSTING BR £100M A YEAR
By Paul Wilenius Daily Express Industrial Reporter
A £100 million bonus farce is exposed today as British Rail heads for a major pay battle.
A Daily Express investigation shows that efficiency scheme to slash rail overtime, has failed.
Overtime payments have increased by 50 per cent to more than £100 million a year. One source said the figure could be as £120 million.
Last night embarrassed rail chiefs were refusing to give details of the failure of the “flexible rostering” system, which BR forced in after three months of industrial strife in 1982.
FIGHT
Critics claim some workers have turned the system to their own advantage, deliberately running trains late so they can claim overtime.
BR will soon be locked in a pay and productivity fight with leaders of 166,000 railmen who are demanding rises of up to 33 per cent.
Rail chiefs are expected to offer 2.5 per cent in the next two weeks.
The railmen would have been offered at least 4.5 per cent, but the industry has lost £250 million through the year long miners’ strike. The unions refused to move coal trains.
A high ranking official who blew the whistle on the overtime farce said; “It is more than my job is worth to come out into the open on this.”
The source complained that the system of flexible rostering - fiercely opposed from the start by the train drivers’ union ASLEF - had been badly thought out.
An official of ASLEF confirmed his claims. He said many drivers were “laughing all the way to the bank.”
They have been earning far more than they did before the system, which scrapped the eight hour day and replaced it with shifts of between seven and nine hours.
Guards and other staff have also been making more money.
The major embarrassment for BR is that it has to pay overtime to drivers and guards when trains are running late. Workers are called in to cover for men who are ill or late. Shift patterns do not match and other workers have to work rest days and Sundays.
DISASTER
Former BR Chairman Sir Peter Parker had expected the flexible rostering shifts to produce great Savings.
Drivers were working on average four hours of overtime a week in 1980. This has risen to 5-8 hours a week.
Although drivers are obviously enjoying the benefits of the system, official ASLEF policy is still to oppose it.
Rail chiefs would find it too embarrassing to scrap the system altogether, but they have held a series of meetings with the unions in an attempt to get it changed.
An ASLEF spokesman said “BR have told us they want get the rosters right, and want to tighten them up. But they will never get them right.” “ The system is a disaster fo the BR board. It is costing them millions of pounds a year."
TONY HARPER COLLECTION
Eastbourne Driver Tony Harper Eastbourne Branch Secretary c1985 - c1987
LONDON BRIDGE
MOTOR LUGGAGE VAN COLLISION
18th APRIL 1985
On Thursday 18th April a buffer stop collision occurred at London Bridge involving MLV, this led to the blacking of the MLVs by drivers. The accident was caused by with a defective braking system which reduced its effectiveness. All MLVs were banned from solo whilst a programmed of modification was carried.

Dave Knight
Brighton No. 2 Assistant Branch Secretary
BURGESS HILL
10th MAY 1985
Involving Brighton driver Mark Capelin



Railway accidents on British Railways
Southern Region
Central Division

PHOTOGRAPHER UNKNOWN
Battersea Park 31st May 1985
Involving Victoria Drivers John Short & Ron Fox
SEE SUB PAGE
DON PULLEN
SELHURST BRANCH



Steve Sinden Collection
T.W.W. Driver Fred Crampton’s derailment
at Eridge on Friday 5th July 1985

TUNBRIDGE WELLS SHED PLATE

The Tunbridge Wells to Eridge line closed for passenger services 6th July 1985.
The Tunbridge Wells West depot remained open until the 10th August 1985. This was due to
the redundant drivers not be able to transfer to their new until the 12th August this was in
accordance with the driver’s national agreements regarding Promotion Transfer &
Redundancy agreements.
Staff during that time worked the services on the Oxted lines and
staff trains were required to run between Tunbridge Wells to Eridge to enable staff to work
these diagrams.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS WEST
DEPOT 1866 - 1985
AS.L.E.& F. BRANCH
April 1906 - August 1985
On the 10th August 1985 saw the closure of Tunbridge Wells West Branch of A.S.L.E.& F. closed after 79 years of existence.

Eastbourne Driver Spud Murphy Sept 1985

Portsmouth A.S.L.E.&F. Centenary badge 1885 - 1985

West Worthing Driver Jim Cameron