NORTHERN RAIL stood accused yesterday of showing “cavalier and dangerous disregard for safety” by covering up technical failures during strike action taken by maintenance staff.

A leaked email seen by rail union RMT appears to show a senior manager praising his team for the cover-up during the dispute taken by maintenance depot drivers.

Drivers at Heaton (Newcastle) and Neville Hill (Leeds) traincare depots are locked in an increasingly acrimonious dispute over pay and job regrading.