Claims that Strathspey steam railway's future could be at risk if no resolution found

Staff and volunteers who have walked out at the Strathspey steam railway have claimed that the popular attraction's future is in jeopardy unless there is change at the top.

They believe that it will not be possible for the company to run a sustainable service in the longer-term because of key staff shortages – including drivers, firemen and guards – after a walk-out by those deeply unhappy with the running of the operation.

Long-time railway worker Mike Gale, of Aviemore, said: "We are really not happy with the board and there has been bullying and harassment going on.

"The staff and volunteers have said enough is enough.

"But the directors have refused to stand down."

On the meeting on Tuesday evening, Mr Gale said: "The railway is failing and unless the board can be replaced with a new team then it will be the death of the Strathspey steam railway.

"I told the room that if we do not have the courage to do what needs to be done then the railway is going to fail and it is failing."

As for the immediate future, Mr Gale said: "I suspect there will be sporadic operations and they will be trying their utmost to get the trains running but the only way to ensure the full operation is for the board to resign.

"People who have left will then come back ­– and they are willing to come back but the longer is it left the more the likelihood is that they will have moved onto other jobs.

"Unless change happens then the railway is going bust."

Mr Gale said there was evidence both recorded and in written form of some of the alleged bullying as well as personal testimony.

The chairman Doug Scott stood down earlier this month when the issues started to surface in the hope that it could appease staff and volunteers and allow some resolution to be found but that has not been the case.

One Strathspey railway worker, who did not wish to be named, said: "The reason we have taken these steps is because of the allegations of bullying and the same board members often berating volunteers.

"So far six paid staff have left including the operations manager, the outdoor superintendent and the engineering manager.

"We have also lost seven of the most regular operation volunteers.

"Most of the people who are now left work in the stations or in catering.

"I think it will be very difficult for the railway to run train services for the foreseeable future."

"The problems has been going on for a few years and finally come to the top. The Flying Scotsman incident has by no means helped in any way, shape or form."

He continued: "At the end of the day we still hope that if the board steps down we can come back and rebuild the railway.

"We don't want to close but at this point it feels inevitable that this will be the case unless the board changes as people are so unhappy.

"If there are no happy staff then you can not operate a railway. All it requires is a few changes.

"At the end of the day we want the railway to succeed."

He said it was more than likely there are visitors booked in who will have been left disappointed. "I think that will be the case and it is not what we want.

"At the end of the day most of the people are volunteers who give up their own valuable free time and have full time jobs elsewhere but we do not want to spend this time working for people who do not respect us."

The Strathspey Railway Company has just provided a full statement in response to the allegations that have been made.

A SRC spokesman said of the meeting on Tuesday: "A spokesperson for the ‘group’ who want change at the railway made unsubstantiated claims of harassment and bullying at the railway which the directors of the SRC vigorously deny.

"He did not address the severity of the financial position of the business’ cash flow projection and ended his time with the statement that ‘if the ‘group’ don’t go away tonight with the answer they demanded, they will be leaving’.

"He concluded by saying that the only real purpose of the meeting should be to hold a vote of no confidence in the board which if won would require the entire board to resign and new directors appointed from an unspecified list of names.

"Although the spokesman was advised of the correct procedure for removing and appointing directors, he insisted on a vote which resulted in a majority of those in the room voting that they had no confidence in the current board.

"Following further discussions in the room it is clear that there are issues which the board require to address including general management of the railway and the appointment of a human resources representative to ensure that both volunteers and employees have an independent person they can talk to about any issues at the railway.

"Retired businessman Dave Childs said that the volunteers, employees and the volunteer run SRC board require more time to consider and resolve the differences in the issues raised at the informal meeting.

"As a successful businessman he understands the issues with the present financial position of the company and knows the solution is to find common ground and to move forward with an agreed business plan which may include some changes on the SRC board.

"At the end of the discussion period the SRC board directors who were present were asked if they intended to resign.

"When the directors said they would not, citing that this was not correct company procedure, two of the employees walked out.

"The spokesperson. who is not a volunteer but a paid member of staff and who is neither a member of the SRC or the SRA, also walked out followed by a few others

"The meeting then ended with various informal discussions between volunteers and employees.

"The board is willing to sit down and discuss the way forward and acknowledge the need for new people to join the board which will then allow longer serving members to step down."

A staff member who would only give us his name as John contacted the Strathy saying there had been no mass walk-out and commented: "I am just unhappy that my job has been put at risk. People read this and they are less likely to use the railway and my job might go."

The Strathy will be publishing the statement in full in the next hour.

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