Network Rail boss compares year of strikes to Iraq war

Andrew Haines says ‘warfare’ with workers is over but bosses need to ‘build the peace’

The boss of Network Rail has compared the past year of train strikes to the Iraq war, saying rail leaders need to “build the peace” with workers in a way that British and US victors over Saddam Hussein failed to do.

Andrew Haines, chief executive of the responsible for Britain’s railway infrastructure, said the “warfare” was over but the lessons of Iraq were “ringing in his ears”.