FIGHTING FOR NORTHERN RAIL SERVICES

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: sept 2014 :: RMTnews 16 RMT has delivered thousands of postcards to the Department of Transport in protest at future plans for the Northern and Trans-Pennine Express franchises as off-peak fares are axed. The post cards have been collected from angry members of the public at over a hundred events organised by the RMT region during the consultation period. The government, and their front organisation Rail North, have organised a pitiful five “listening” events across the vast area affected without a single event in Cumbria which is hard-hit by the plans. RMT is demanding to know how many responses the shadowy and low- profile ‘official’ consultation has managed to generate. The main thrust of the plans out to consultation is: • Driver Only Operation introduced on the Northern franchise • Driver Only Operation left at the discretion of the franchisee on the TPE • Reduced ticket office opening times • Cuts to “back room and support functions” staff • Possible “alliancing” between franchisees and Network Rail • Encouraging “local delivery models” and community rail (especially in the North East of Northern franchise) • Increasing fares • the promotion of third party funding of services In fact, the plans are already being smuggled in before the consultation has even closed. RMT has revealed that the government and Northern Rail have colluded to axe off-peak fares in the name of private profit in what the union describes as “a kick in the teeth for the travelling public and a taste of what’s to come under the new Northern and Trans- Pennine Express franchises which are currently out to public consultation”. Northern Rail has confirmed in an internal circular that the axing of the off-peak fares is simply about money: “The changes are being made after the Department of Transport asked Northern to look at several options to generate additional revenue as part of its new franchise agreement”. The abolition of the off-peak evening fares will apply to the following areas: • Travel South Yorkshire • Transport for Greater Manchester • Metro West Yorkshire • Routes radiating out of the above areas • The Hexham-Newcastle line RMT acting general secretary Mick Cash said that the axing of off-peak fares was a savage kick in the teeth for people already struggling with the burden of low pay and austerity. “RMT is giving the people who use the rail services an opportunity to have their say. “Let’s not forget that the core FIGHTING FOR NORTHERN RAIL SERVICES Mass public support for RMT campaign against Northern and Trans-Pennine Express rail carve-up