NORTHERN AND TRANS-PENNINE FRANCHISE FIGHT GROWS

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: january 2015 :: RMTnews 4 R MT hit the new year running in the continuing fight over the threat to jobs, fares and services from the new franchises on the Northern and Trans-Pennine Express routes. The RMT campaign is taking five key messages out to the travelling public: • Say No to Driver Only Operated Trains • Keep Ticket Offices Open • Keep Stations Staffed and Safe • Stop cuts to the Transpennine Express Network • Oppose Massive Fare Increases Activists began the year by targeting stations across the north after the government was forced to confirm that the Invitations to Tender (ITTs) for the new Northern and TransPennine franchises will be delayed into February at the earliest. There is also growing uncertainties at the Department of Transport about the current TPE franchise extension and problems over the electrification in the region that look like dragging on well into the year. The influential Rail Business Intelligence bulletin has reported that a combination of delays to the electrification programme, alongside a shortage of diesel units and major problems under the procurement process of securing new stock under current timescales, has thrown up a whole series of practical problems that were omitted from Chancellor George Osborne’s Autumn Statement. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that the government’s whole franchise timetable for the Northern and TPE routes has clearly descended into chaos. “We now know that the pledges to replace the clapped out Pacer’s has been exposed as nothing but hot air as the government strategy for rail across the North unravels before their eyes and that they are also being forced to consider replacing one lash up with another by press-ganging 30 year old London Underground stock into service raising serious safety issues. “RMT activists and our supporters in the community will continue to be out in force across the region in the New Year with a renewal of our fight against the rail franchise carve up. "Our message is clear, the fight to stop the outrageous attack on jobs, safety and services under the Northern and TPE franchise plans continues in 2015 and the union is sending out the clearest possible signal to the government and ‘Rail North’ that they need to scrap this attack on transport operations and to cut the hot air about improving services when they are actually condemning the North to years of rail misery. “Let’s not forget that the core of the government’s future plans for Northern and TPE is to axe jobs, restrict services, throw the guards off the trains and jack up fares while capacity to meet surging rail demand in the area is left to stagnate. “That attack on the fare- paying public has already begun with the abolition of a wide range of off-peak fares and only an all-out and coordinated fight can stop the savage assault on rail in the North,” he said. NORTHERN AND TRANS-PENNINE FRANCHISE FIGHT GROWS