A secret process of training and appraising Network Rail managers to take over from vital signal operators has been taking place over the past month as the RMT union has been gearing up for industrial action.
As a result, the company believes it can run a skeleton commuter service in major cities such as London, Glasgow, Birmingham and Manchester throughout a strike, although there would still be serious disruption.
A Network Rail source said: 'We have been looking at the number of signalling operators we would be able to call on in the event of a strike. We have set up three assessment centres to ensure that in trials people meet requirements. We reckon we have got 120 to 130.'
These workers were signal or area managers and therefore most of them are not unionised. The company also hopes some regular signalmen will cross picket lines.
Meanwhile, the company is planning to hold further talks with the RMT this week. The result of the strike ballot was 2,947 in favour, with 2,246 against on a 68 per cent turnout of the 7,734 members balloted.
However, these figures combine the results of five separate ballots of signalmen alongside maintenance workers and others. Network Rail has demanded to see the details of each ballot. It suspects that the key signallers' ballot was very close.
The RMT is prepared to re-enter talks, but is consulting its members over the form that strike action could take - national one-day stoppages, possibly combined with the London Underground, which is holding separate ballots, or more focused regional action.
General secretary Bob Crow said: 'We are prepared to talk, but they have to address our concerns and deal with them seriously through negotiation. We have been meeting our reps this weekend and consulting on what form action should take.'
The threat of strike action has been growing all year. The RMT balloted for three reasons, the key one being the closure of the company's final salary pension scheme to new members and replacement with, 'an inferior and cheaper money purchase scheme for new starters', according to the union.
In addition, they say, those transferring from private engineering companies into Network Rail - which is taking its maintenance work in-house - will see their pension payments rise by some 40 per cent because the Network Rail fund is in deficit and requires higher contributions.
The RMT is also angry about the refusal of the company to negotiate giving discounts on fares to those who joined the industry after privatisation.
The final disagreement is over pay. The company has offered a one-year 3 per cent deal, a two-year deal with 3.5 per cent in year one and inflation plus 0.75 per cent in year two, or a three-year settlement with 3.2 per cent in year one, inflation in year two and inflation plus a guaranteed 35-hour week in year three.
