NO TICKET OFFICE CUTS

RMTnews :: february 2007 :: www.rmt.org.uk 6 NO SOUTHEASTERN TICKET OFFICE CUTS RMT has produced postcards to oppose plans by the Southeastern franchise holders to reduce ticket office opening hours at dozens of stations from April. Former franchise operator South Eastern Trains (SET) also proposed these cuts. But, following a huge public outcry and a determined campaign, they were withdrawn. However, Southeastern want cuts to ticket office hours at stations including Ashford, Crofton Park, Dover Priory, Hastings, Lower Sydenham, New Beckenham, Rainham, Sandwich, Swanley and Wye. These latest plans will lead to a reduction in service quality, discourage rail use and mean that more passengers will be left alone, particularly in the evening and at the weekend. The use of ticket machines are no substitute for trained staff that can advise on the full range of ticket and route options available.. HOW CAN YOU CAN HELP Ask your MP to sign Early Day Motion 751 against the cuts tabled by Gwyn Prosser MP. Send off the two postcards available from head office to show your opposition. ‘ONE’ RAILWAY CUT TICKET OFFICE JOBS Ticket queues are growing longer on ‘one’ Railway because the company has cut dozens of ticket-office jobs. When 'one' was awarded the franchise they promised to take on an extra 40 front-line staff – but last summer they cut 32 ticket-office jobs. As a result, more windows are closed more often, while some ticket offices are closed altogether for parts of the day. The union has pointed out that self-serve machines are unreliable, tickets bought online are often wrong - yet ‘one’ Railway's approach has made it more difficult to sort things out with a real live member of staff. “As the queues grow, there is more frustration and more delay. Hardly surprising that ‘one’ Railway came rock-bottom in last year's national passenger satisfaction survey. “For the rail staff trying hard to provide a service, it means more stress, more abuse and, worst of all, more assaults,” said general secretary Bob Crow. Thanks to RMT campaigning, a few ticket-office jobs are being restored, but there are still far too few to cope with growing passenger numbers. The union advises any irate passenger not to take their frustrations out on staff but to write to ‘one’ Railway managing director Andrew Chivers at Oliver's Yard, 55 City Road, London EC1Y 1HQ, or email him on andrew.chivers@onerailway.com You can also write to your MP and urge him or her to take up the issue - you can email easily by visiting www.writetothem.com NO TICKET OFFICE CUTS Rail franchise holders at ‘one’ and Southeastern are both attempting to reduce ticket office opening hours and cut jobs and RMT has launched campaigns to stop the cuts