What does Network Rail being abolished mean for the future?

[Enigma]

Hi all, I am new to these forums and the Rail industry in general. I am set to join NR in September as a graduate engineer.
I was concerned to hear that NR may be abolished in the near future in favour of GBR.

What does this mean for the industry? What does this mean for the employees? Would I have a certain job with GBR if I had a job with NR?
Any experts in this field would be extremely appreciated

 

[bcarmicle]

What does this mean for the employees? Would I have a certain job with GBR if I had a job with NR?

There will most likely be no job impact - TUPE will ensure that all employees transfer over to GBR.

 

[simonw]

Hi all, I am new to these forums and the Rail industry in general. I am set to join NR in September as a graduate engineer.
I was concerned to hear that NR may be abolished in the near future in favour of GBR.

What does this mean for the industry? What does this mean for the employees? Would I have a certain job with GBR if I had a job with NR?
Any experts in this field would be extremely appreciated

Assuming NR is absorbed into GBR, the transfer of undertakings protection of employment (TUPE) will apply and your job and terms of employment will be protected for two years. There are exceptions to this in for example the need to restructure the business on economic grounds, but basically yes your job will still exist.

 

[Wyrleybart]

Hi all, I am new to these forums and the Rail industry in general. I am set to join NR in September as a graduate engineer.
I was concerned to hear that NR may be abolished in the near future in favour of GBR.

What does this mean for the industry? What does this mean for the employees? Would I have a certain job with GBR if I had a job with NR?
Any experts in this field would be extremely appreciated

The railway industry will always need engineers.
I really wouldn't be worried

 

[duffield]

Not really abolished, more absorbed!

My prediction:
The only job losses at the point it becomes part of GBR will be at the very, very top level of management, people leaving by negotiated agreement under the terms of their specific bigwig contracts.

Lower level redundancies, if there are any (as a result of restructuring and elimination of duplication), will come later, typically voluntary.

 

[BrummieBobby]

Ultimately, one cannot tell how things will look when NWR is replaced with GBR. However I would imagine that operations staff (Signallers, S&T, PWay etc) will see virtually no change, as they are essential staff for the day to day operation and maintenance of the railway. I would imagine that engineers would be in a similar position.

I would also argue that engineers are simply to expensive to train and valuable once qualified for them to be simply jettisoned by a new organisation. When I went to Initial Signaller Training / Signalling School (An increasingly distant memory!) was told that, at the time, it took around £40,000 to take somebody off the street and train them to become a productive Signaller. I wouldn't know how much it costs now, but I would imagine for engineers this situation holds true.

 

[DarloRich]

Don't worry about It. See It as an opportunity to join a bigger business offering you even more options for your future career

 

[Zomboid]

If GBR is anything like NR you'll quickly become a veteran of several re-orgs, but unless you're going into delay attribution is very likely that whatever you do will still need to be done in the brave new world.

 

[Halifaxlad]

I can imagine it would mean to change uniform!

 

[Enigma]

Don't worry about It. See It as an opportunity to join a bigger business offering you even more options for your future career

So it's more likely to be a good thing than a bad thing?

I can imagine it would mean to change uniform!

No uniform in my case at least haha!

Assuming NR is absorbed into GBR, the transfer of undertakings protection of employment (TUPE) will apply and your job and terms of employment will be protected for two years. There are exceptions to this in for example the need to restructure the business on economic grounds, but basically yes your job will still exist.

Thank you, and others, this was very helpful! Nice to meet you all I hope to use these forums more often. My bad if I put it into the wrong section

 

[Bald Rick]

Hi all, I am new to these forums and the Rail industry in general. I am set to join NR in September as a graduate engineer.
I was concerned to hear that NR may be abolished in the near future in favour of GBR.

What does this mean for the industry? What does this mean for the employees? Would I have a certain job with GBR if I had a job with NR?
Any experts in this field would be extremely appreciated

Loads of opportunity.

I have heard the Rail Minister say that, within the industry, “everyone who wants a job will have one”. It might be a different job, but that is an opportunity. (“Different job” as in there will be different types of jobs around in a few years).

But, as an engineer, the world is your oyster. Absolutely nothing to worry about. Welcome!

 

[DarloRich]

So it's more likely to be a good thing than a bad thing?

absolutely - how can it not be, especially for a new starter ?

 

[Enigma]

absolutely - how can it not be, especially for a new starter ?

Well I thought perhaps this absorption would result in perhaps some cost-cutting, people being fired, etc.
That perhaps salaries would drop and such?
Although I'm just guessing that's why I made the thread

 

[DarloRich]

Well I thought perhaps this absorption would result in perhaps some cost-cutting, people being fired, etc.
That perhaps salaries would drop and such?
Although I'm just guessing that's why I made the thread

I am sure there will be change but change itself isn't bad. I am sure there will be some amalgamation and streamlining but that doesn't have to be a threat. Wages wont decline and people cant be easily fired in a nationalised industry.

Without wanting to go all "who moved the cheese" there are always people who cant cope with change so there will be negativity and complaint. Just deal in facts rather than emotion and you will be fine.

Famous last words - I don't think there is anything to worry about. In fact I see it as a great time to join. The potential internal development and movement world will only get bigger because of this change.

 

[The Planner]

I would be amazed if there isn't another round of voluntary redundancy before GBR really kicks in. There will be plenty of people that didn't quite have enough in the pension/making the numbers add up, that would quite happily go in 18-24 months time.

 

[DarloRich]

I would be amazed if there isn't another round of voluntary redundancy before GBR really kicks in.

absolutely - and that creates opportunity for those who want to stay. a win/win ( subject to skill retention!)

 

[Enigma]

Thanks all, this really encouraged me! Hopefully I'll enjoy my time with NR I still feel very privileged to be afforded the role. Special thanks actually to these forums where I read somebody's interview advice and it worked wonders.

 

[Javelin_55]

If GBR is anything like NR you'll quickly become a veteran of several re-orgs, but unless you're going into delay attribution is very likely that whatever you do will still need to be done in the brave new world.

Delay attribution might look a bit different but I can't imagine it would go completely.

 

[Bald Rick]

Delay attribution might look a bit different but I can't imagine it would go completely.

It‘s unlikely to look any different at the sharp end. All the performance management systems rely on knowing why delays have been caused!

 

[D365]

No uniform in my case at least haha!

New PPE (personal protective equipment) will be required as per every company rebranding.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Jun 2025 ==

If GBR is anything like any railway organisation you'll quickly become a veteran of several re-orgs, but unless you're going into delay attribution is very likely that whatever you do will still need to be done in the brave new world.

Bit in bold - I’ve fixed that for you. Bi-annual re-orgs are not exclusive to Network Rail by any means! But yes, railway jobs won’t disappear in a hurry, there is always work to be done plus an aging workforce to be replaced.

 

[Helvellyn]

I am sure there will be change but change itself isn't bad. I am sure there will be some amalgamation and streamlining but that doesn't have to be a threat. Wages wont decline and people cant be easily fired in a nationalised industry.

Without wanting to go all "who moved the cheese" there are always people who cant cope with change so there will be negativity and complaint. Just deal in facts rather than emotion and you will be fine.

Famous last words - I don't think there is anything to worry about. In fact I see it as a great time to join. The potential internal development and movement world will only get bigger because of this change.

Exactly. I really hope work takes place to identify talent at all levels and encourage opportunities for development. If you look at BR people could move around across track and train to develop as rounded individuals, or stay in a certain area. Having been through reorganisations in the past senior people have generally said there is always a job in rail if you're willing to adapt and accept change.

 

[Enigma]

New PPE (personal protective equipment) will be required as per every company rebranding.

Yep they're providing me with PPE, but of course, I'll only be wearing that on the depot (which I may or may not go depending on my placements)

If I aim for an office job, I won't have uniform, unless you count Business Casual as uniform