KEEP SOUTH EASTERN TRAINS PUBLIC!

On Sunday November 9 2003, the Strategic Rail Authority finally took over train operations from Connex Transport Ltd. The SRA had previously placed the rail privateer on six months notice that their South Eastern franchise would be terminated as the company was unable to provide a programme of improvements before the SRA was prepared to consider any increase in subsidy for the 2004-06 period. South Eastern Trains, set up as a subsidiary of the SRA, has since proved to be value for money, cost £6.7 million a month compared to £7.8 million a month under Connex. SET is also likely to return some of the £80 million subsidy because improved financial performance means that all of the money is no longer required. HIGH PERFORMANCE Network Rail’s latest performance figures show that 89 per cent of SET trains arrived on time in period five of 2005/06. This is higher than the national all-operator figure of 87.8 per cent. SET’s performance has improved in nearly every quarter since being in the public sector. Transport Minister Derek Twigg confirmed as much at transport questions this month. “My point is that there has been a big improvement in the service: overall, the network is ahead of schedule, having achieved 85.1 per cent. of its performance measure target for next March,” he said. A key reason for the improvement was identified by SET managing director Michael Holden in the Times on April 20: “Bidding for franchises takes management time and time is the most precious commodity we have. “We have been able to declutter the agenda and focus everyone on running the railway better,” he said. After assuming responsibility for south-eastern services, South Eastern Trains also found that there was a 20 per cent shortage in station staff. Connex had sought to save money by not filling vacancies leading to a situation where stations were unstaffed and fare evasion was rife. SET took steps to fill these vacancies across the whole of the company over the last two years and there is now 500 more staff than in 2003. IN REVERSE GEAR However, in the run-up to re- privatisation, South Eastern Trains revealed plans to slash ticket office opening times and cut station staff. These new plans threaten to throw improvements made so far back into reverse, threatening nearly 100 jobs, and posing the prospect not only of a worse service for the travelling public but also of less security resulting in more vandalism and assaults on our members and passengers. It all adds up to our members and the travelling public being asked to pay the price of re- privatising South Eastern Trains with jobs and service levels. Two key passenger groups London Transport Users’ Committee and Rail Passengers’ Council joined RMT in the campaign to keep booking offices open after they had received more than 3,000 objections to the plan. “Everyone agrees that we need to encourage people out of their cars and onto trains, but removing trained, uniformed staff from stations would mean less security and more vandalism and would have the opposite effect – and that can only mean more road congestion and environmental damage,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said following the announcement of planned cuts. Under re-privatisation plans services currently operated by South Eastern Trains will combine with new Channel Tunnel Rail Link Domestic Services (CTRLDS) to form the Integrated Kent Franchise (IKF) and Invitations to Tender have been issued to a number of consortiums. However, the union continues to campaign for SET to remain in the public sector and encourages members to get involved and write to their MP to urge them to sign the early day motions (EDM) opposite. october 2005 :: RMTnews 11 EDM 447 SOUTH EASTERN TRAINS' TICKET OFFICE CUTS Prosser, Gwyn That this House notes South Eastern Trains' proposals to close and reduce the opening times of ticket offices at their stations; believes that any closures or reductions in ticket office opening times will lead to a lower level of service to the travelling public in general and to disabled people in particular, act as a disincentive for the public to make use of the network, threaten revenue protection and potentially make stations an unsafe environment for rail users; further believes that automatic ticket machines are an inadequate substitute for well-trained railway staff and is opposed to any loss in jobs which could result from the proposals; and therefore calls on South Eastern Trains to withdraw their plans. EDM 395 SOUTH EASTERN TRAINS Efford, Clive That this House remains deeply concerned that, despite public subsidy being more than three times the amount received by British Rail, passengers continue to endure far worse punctuality rates than under public ownership; welcomes the improvement in reliability and punctuality of South Eastern Train services since the decision of the Strategic Rail Authority in November 2003 to return the service to public ownership; notes the report by the Catalyst think-tank that public ownership of the railway would save a minimum of £500 million a year; is further deeply concerned that the Government intends to re- privatise South Eastern Trains; regrets that South Eastern Trains was not allowed to tender for this franchise, removing any public sector comparator; and therefore calls upon the Government to allow South Eastern Trains to submit a public sector bid to ensure improvement and value for money on the United Kingdom's rail network. After two years back in the public sector South Eastern Trains has become a success story with improved services and less complaints Keep South Eastern Trains public!