Concerns have been raised over plans by Network Rail to scrap 1,000 safety-critical track renewal jobs.

Union RMT has written to the company demanding the planned cuts be halted as Britain's raiways risk sinking into "further chaos".

The organisation claims if the cuts proceed, crucial track replacement work will be cancelled while Britain's rail infrastructure is operating on a "knife edge".

General Secretary Mick Cash said: "The deferral or cancellation of critical renewals work will have an adverse impact on safety, the quality of services, employment levels, staff moral and the rail skills base.

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"Astonishingly, the union understands that the renewals work will not be delivered due to the fact that the devolved routes are claiming insufficient funds have been made available to deliver this essential safety work.

"This raises many questions and not least vindicates our concerns about the impact of Network Rail fragmentation and devolution on the safe and efficient running of the railway.

"These planned cuts are a scandal and would impact on services and safety at a time when our railways are already running right at the limit of safety tolerances. Track that is past its safe operational sell-buy date would not be replaced within safe time limits running the risk of repeated failures and possible derailments. That is the Government, through the ORR, playing fast and loose with rail safety."

(LM)