Network Rail has confirmed it is planning to cut 1,800 maintenance jobs, the BBC has reported.
The rail operator intends to shed the positions by April 2011, but said “no final decisions have been made”.
The news follows revelations last month that women in Network Rail’s HR function feel “uncomfortable” around HR director Peter Bennett, following allegations that he sexually harassed other female colleagues.
Network Rail said the planned cuts were due to its budget for the next five years being trimmed by £4bn.
“We have a clear commitment to the British people to reduce the costs of running the railway,” it said in a statement.
“Our plans to restructure our maintenance teams will improve the way we operate the network.”
Network Rail added that it was now discussing its plans with staff and union representatives.
Earlier this week, Network Rail proposed the building of a new £34bn high-speed railway line linking Scotland and London by 2030.
The line would serve Birmingham and Manchester, getting passengers from Glasgow to London in just two hours and 16 minutes, the rail firm said.
The company, which owns Britain’s rail infrastructure, said it hoped to avoid any compulsory redundancies. The firm currently employs a total of 33,000 people across the country.
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