Network Rail is to become an accredited Real Living Wage employer, ensuring that thousands of railway colleagues are paid appropriately to reflect the varied and vital work they carry out.

While Network Rail already pays its 41,000 staff the Real Living Wage, becoming an officially accredited Real Living Wage employer will mean that all of its contractors – who provide facilities services such as cleaning and catering – are also expected to pay their employees the living wage.

Andrew Haines, Network Rail chief executive, said: “We already pay our 41,000 employees the Real Living Wage and have been working closely with our contractors to ensure this is extended to our supply chain too.

“It is vital that we recognise the important work carried out by thousands of colleagues – day in and day out – helping to keep our stations clean and improve the journeys of millions of passengers every day.”

Becoming an accredited Real Living Wage employer has been a long-term ambition for Network Rail. Research by the Living Wage Foundation has highlighted numerous business benefits for employers who pay their staff the living wage – including reduced absenteeism, improved recruitment and retention of staff and improved worker morale.

Network Rail has been working through its processes to ensure that it has the right systems in place to support a smooth introduction of the Real Living Wage.