UK Operators Criticized for Continued Fax Machine Use

Both the UK's National Energy System Operator (Neso) and Northern Rail continue to use fax machines for critical communications. Neso uses faxes in its control rooms to manage electricity flows, while Northern Rail relies on them for crew communications and rostering. The use of these outdated machines has been attributed to legacy systems and agreements with trade unions, which have hindered the transition to modern digital solutions. Despite plans from both organizations to replace fax machines, union agreements and the complexity of the transition pose significant challenges. Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, has criticized Northern Rail's reliance on faxes, highlighting it as a symbol of inefficiency and poor service delivery. Both organizations have acknowledged the need to modernize and are working towards phasing out fax technology.