[Yet the lying Tory government argues that high…]

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Yet the lying Tory government argues that high labour costs, "gross overmanning and industrial troubles" are responsible for the decisions to cut the railways.

The Financial Times tells different story: recent figures show that production lost through 'industrial troubles" fell from "486,757 man hours lost in 1978 to 25,328 man hours in 1979 alone."

"As a result, the proportion of repairs called for by the BR Board from BRE which were delayed, fell in the case of locomotives from 7.8% in 1978 to zero in 1980; for wagons from 16% to 5%.

The unions in BR have supported productivity France Belgium Spain Britain 1980 EXPENDITURE ON ELECTRIFICATION millions 52.1 52.0 43.0 11.3 Nobody can deny that the demand for electrification is there. The Railway Industry Association (RIA) has identified 70 major projects for companies in designing technology for electrification. The total value of just 40 of these schemes is reckoned by the RIA to be worth £1.7 billion to UK industry.

In other words thousands of jobs could be created if only the government invested.

But, are the financial resources there to be rediverted? Yes.

The only way is through industrial action involving all the unions on the railways.

Two lines of action need to be followed. Firstly, union branches, district and regional committees, and national executives need to be committed to backing, paying or and working for a determined struggle to stop the planned collapse of the industry.

Secondly, local action committees need to be formed in those localities where closures are announced.

Action committees can draw in both the workers in the establishment, the wider labour movement and the community of rail-users affected If there is another way to stop the jobs drain - then please tell me what it is.

LAURIE SPARHAM (IFL/