Network Rail staff shunning rail travel for cheaper domestic flights

Network Rail staff have spent over a million pounds on UK flights in the past two years because it was cheaper to fly than to take the train, a Freedom of Information Act (FOI) request discovered.

The FOI request by The Sun revealed that the total sum came to £1.3million, with 90% of the 8,500 domestic flights going to Scotland. Former operations managing director Robin Gisby was the most prolific spender, taking 15 flights between January 2013 and September 2014 at a total cost of £2,250. He also spent £4,430 on international flights.

Network Rail said in a statement: “If employees have to attend a 10am business meeting in Scotland it is to cheaper to fly up than take the train the night before and have to pay for overnight accommodation. For the majority of staff travel rail is much the better way to go. A total of £1.3 million was spent on flights in 2013/14 and 2104/15 but £32 million was spent on rail travel during that period. Network Rail's 35,000 people have to pay the going rate for all travel, be it air, rail or car. Our people are also obliged to use the cheapest method available, sometimes that means by air but mostly we travel by rail.”