Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Right Decision NowRight Decision Now

Business

Plans for mass closure of railway ticket offices in England confirmed

Rail firms have announced plans for the mass closure of England’s ticket offices to “modernise” the railway, ramping up the battle with unions and infuriating disability and passenger groups.

The move, pushed by the government to save costs, was confirmed by the industry body, the Rail Delivery Group. Train operators told staff on Wednesday morning of proposals to shut down almost all of the 1,007 remaining offices, bar at the busiest stations, within three years.

The RDG said ticket office staff would move on to station platforms and concourses in “new and engaging roles”. However, many fear job losses, with any guarantees offered over compulsory redundancies in pay talks set to expire at the end of next year.

The RMT union called it “a savage attack on railway workers, their families and the travelling public” and claimed operators had issued statutory redundancy notices affecting hundreds of staff.

Train operators said there were no redundancy notices, but it is understood that section 188 letters – informing unions and staff that posts were at risk, and a legal requirement for possible widespread redundancies – have been sent.

The RMT general secretary, Mick Lynch, said: “It is clear that the whole enterprise of closing ticket offices has got nothing to do with modernisation and is a thinly veiled plan to gut our railways of station staff.”

Among the proposed closures are 131 out of 149 remaining Northern Rail ticket offices; stations as big as Darlington and Durham on LNER; and all those run by Avanti West Coast.

Offices will be axed and support staff hours reduced across stations including London Euston, Birmingham New Street and Manchester Piccadilly.

Labour has warned that “rushed” plans could worsen the “managed decline of our rail network”, while transport campaigners said it would put more vulnerable people off rail travel.

However, the industry argues that only 12% of tickets are now bought at offices, down from 82% in 1995, with moves continuing to expand contactless payments and online buying.

England’s big passenger train operators are directly contracted by the government and have been told to find savings to bridge the gap in revenue, with fare income still more than 20% down since the coronavirus pandemic and the decline in commuting amid a switch to hybrid working patterns.

Train operators remain in dispute with unions but the government has pushed rail firms into moving ahead with controversial reform, with little headway in negotiations and more strikes coming. The RMT and TSSA unions have said they will “vigorously oppose” the proposals.

Read more:
Plans for mass closure of railway ticket offices in England confirmed

    You May Also Like

    Business

    The head of the International Monetary Fund has warned of increased risks to the stability of the financial system after weeks of banking sector...

    World News

    BEIJING — China landed an uncrewed spacecraft on the far side of the moon on Sunday, overcoming a key hurdle in its landmark mission...

    World News

    LONDON — Talks aimed at reaching a global agreement on how to better fight pandemics will be concluded by 2025 or earlier if possible,...

    World News

    SINGAPORE — Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelensky’s unscheduled appearance at Asia’s biggest security conference dominated proceedings on Sunday after China’s defense chief slammed “separatists” in...

    Disclaimer: rightdecisionnow.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2024 rightdecisionnow.com | All Rights Reserved