RESIST FIRST CAPITAL CONNECT TICKET- OFFICE CUTS

RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: february 2009 :: RMTnews 4 R MT has launched a campaign to fight plans by First Capital Connect to slash the opening times of ticket offices across its rail franchise. The union is committed to working with passengers and MPs to keep services intact and protect loyal rail workers’ jobs after the First Group subsidiary announced plans to cut 800 hours a week from the opening times of more than 40 stations. The vast bulk of the planned cuts are aimed at 28 stations, which would see ticket office hours reduced by a total of 750 hours every week and threaten up to 22 jobs. Yet the company saw its revenues grow by eight per cent in the six months up to last September while imposing hefty fare hikes. First Group also poured more than £55 million into shareholders’ bank accounts over the same period. RMT general secretary Bob Crow said that the company was simply seeking to protect massive profits by taking the axe to the services provided by RMT members. “These cuts would see some stations lose their ticket offices entirely at the weekend and will leave stations inadequately staffed at weekends and in the evening. That can only make passengers feel less secure “Ticket machines are no substitute for real people offering help and advice, not least for disabled travellers, and some passengers would end up paying even more than the inflated fares they already have to or abandon their journey. The union is urging FCC passengers to write direct to Passenger Focus using postcards produced by the union to register their objection. “We know that passengers want to see more staff on stations, not fewer, and these cuts are the last thing that commuters, rail workers or the economy need,” Bob Crow said. RESIST FIRST CAPITAL CONNECT TICKET-OFFICE CUTS M assive cuts in railway track renewals ordered by Network Rail threaten a potentially catastrophic undermining of rail infrastructure safety and RMT has called for them to be reversed. RMT has learned that Network Rail has ordered the deferral of 28 per cent of its track renewals programme thanks to a massive financial squeeze imposed by the Office of Rail Regulation – which is also the industry’s safety watchdog. The squeeze is also being felt on the maintenance side of NR, which is also seeing cuts in the frequency of track inspections and routine signals maintenance. RMT demanded re- instatement of Network Rail’s full programme of planned renewals work and a reversal of cuts in maintenance regimes and inspections. RMT general secretary Bob Crow said that the 22 per cent efficiency savings demanded by the ORR were being translated into a massive assault on planned renewals, inspections and maintenance that raises the spectre of another Hatfield or Potters Bar. “It is only a few months since Network Rail was slapped with an improvement notice on its inspection regime after the tragedy at Grayrigg, and the last thing the industry needs is further cuts. “When Network Rail talks of “volume phasing to be adjusted to help deliver more value for money” what they mean is that they are cutting their track renewals programme by nearly a third, and that must be reversed. “The government has said it will create jobs, and it beggars belief that in the current economic climate Network Rail should be allowed to contemplate a massive cut in renewals work that is not only essential for safety’s sake but will also benefit the economy too,” Bob said. NETWORK RAIL SPENDING CUTS THREATEN SAFETY