GREATER ANGLIA TICKET OFFICE MASSACRE THREAT

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: may 2017 :: RMTnews 7 R MT has launched a campaign to fight a planned programme of ticket office closures the length and breadth of the Greater Anglia franchise run by the Dutch state-owned company Abellio. The company, which currently holds the franchise until 2026, plans to remove 57 of the currently 64 ticket offices across the Greater Anglia network threatening hundreds of ticket office jobs. It intends to only have seven remaining traditional ticket offices located at London Liverpool Street, Colchester, Norwich, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich and Stansted Airport. That means that the company is proposing to close the bulk of the remainder of their station- based services during the next year in three stages, with seven ticket offices to close by this summer. Greater Anglia has also revealed that its intends to introduce revenue staff and place ticket vending machines (TVMs) at all stations with major implications for jobs and services. RMT is completely opposed to any closures or reduction in opening hours of ticket offices, to any cuts in station staff jobs and the potential introduction of lone working at stations. As a result the union is planning a campaign of opposition designed at engaging the public, passenger groups and campaign groups and politicians right across the area in an all-out drive to halt the ticket office massacre. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that the union was appalled at this planned attack on ticket offices and station staff across the franchise which would wipe out the vast bulk of these vital passenger services over the next year. “The union will fight with every tool at our disposal to halt these disastrous plans which are all about cutting public services to pump up private profits. “This is all part and parcel of a national drive to de-staff our trains and stations as the private train companies look to smuggle in a faceless railway in a dash to fatten up their own profit margins. “RMT is calling on the public and politicians to join with us in a mass campaign to halt this ticket office massacre that would stretch the length and breadth of the Greater Anglia franchise,” he said. GREATER ANGLIA TICKET OFFICE MASSACRE THREAT Dutch state-owned company Abellio plans to remove the vast majority of ticket offices across the franchise