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Welcoming the government's decision yesterday to press ahead with HS2, the high speed rail project, TUC Deputy General Secretary Frances O'Grady said:

'The government's welcome decision to invest in high speed rail will prove vital in getting more passengers and freight onto rail, narrowing the north south divide and speeding our economic recovery.

'But thousands of jobs in rail construction, renewals and maintenance are currently under threat from Sir Roy McNulty's proposals to cut staffing across the rail industry. If ministers are serious about delivering the rail infrastructure of the future, they must defend the jobs of these skilled and experienced workers who will be essential if HS2 is to become a reality.

'With government and cross party support secured, HS2 must be built in a way that maximises jobs and apprenticeships and delivers real benefits to passengers, communities and the environment.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Elly Gibson T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E: egibson@tuc.org.uk