STOP SOUTHEASTERN TICKET-OFFICE CUTS

10 RMTnews :: march 2007 :: www.rmt.org.uk RMT has told both London TravelWatch and Passenger Focus that proposals to reduce ticket office opening hours would hit service quality and passenger safety and could result in passengers deserting the network. Passengers have been sending in RMT postcards registering objections to Southeastern’s plans to impose ‘major’ changes to opening hours at 29 booking offices. It also wants to make ‘minor’ changes in a further 70. It is less than two years since a huge public outcry and a concerted campaign involving passengers and trades unions forced South Eastern Trains, the former operator, to drop proposals to cut opening hours. Today, RMT has received representations from local councillors, passenger groups, individual passengers, resident associations and RMT members, all of whom have voiced their opposition to the new proposals. SUBMISSIONS RMT’s submissions to both watchdogs pointed out that inadequate staffing levels at stations is one of the key concerns for passengers and details the many reasons why ticket vending machines are an inadequate replacement for trained railway staff. General secretary Bob Crow pointed out that rail workers and passengers alike want to see more trained, uniformed staff on stations, not fewer, and especially at night. “At a time when the environment is crying out for more public transport use to cut emissions from cars, these cuts must be shelved,” he said. The 29 stations threatened with ‘major cuts to ticket-office opening times are: Ashford, Beckenham Hill, Bellingham, Bickley, Chiselhurst, Crofton Park, Dover Priory, Eden Park, Farningham Road, Hastings, Hildenborough, Longfield, Lower Sydenham, Martin Hill, Meopham, New Beckenham, Newington, Otford, Queenborough, Rainham, Sandling, Sandwich, Sole Street, Staplehurst, Swanley, Swanscombe, Walmer, Westgate-on-Sea and Wye. Stop Southeastern ticket-office cuts RMT urges watchdogs to oppose proposed cuts in Southeastern ticket office opening hours EARLY DAY MOTION 751, SUBMITTED BY GWYN PROSSER MP AND SIGNED BY 30 OTHERS TO DATE TICKET OFFICE OPENING HOURS That this House notes proposals by the Southeastern rail franchise to reduce ticket office opening times at dozens of their stations; believes that such a move will lead to a lower level of service to the travelling public, 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; is therefore opposed to any loss in jobs which could result from the proposals; and calls on the Southeastern franchise to withdraw its plans.