Searchable article text
RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: march 2021 :: RMTnews
6
T
he union has welcomed a
London Travelwatch report
into the future of public
transport in the capital but
warned that without a change
of approach from government
toward Transport for London it
woud go nowhere.
The independent
watchdog, set up by
Parliament to provide a voice
for London’s travelling public,
spoke to over 30 organisations
and user groups to get their
views on how the future might
look, and what people need
most from transport.
It was no surprise that the
core issues in the report The
Journey Ahead was service
reliability, safety and
accessibility came up as top
priorities along with a desire to
focus efforts on sustainable,
green transport and
infrastructure.
This included the fact that
the inequalities that exist
across London continue to
play out in transport, with
some widening during the
pandemic.
The union pointed to
recommendations stressing
the importance of rebuilding
passenger confidence by
increasing capacity,
maintaining social distancing
and making sure services are
as safe and clean as possible.
The report also calls for major
investment in making public
transport more accessible to
disabled and older
passengers.
RMT general secretary Mick
Cash said that the report
added to the overwhelming
case for decisive action to
rebuild passenger safety and
confidence in London’s public
transport system but it will
simply gather dust on the shelf
if the government continues its
politically motivated attacks on
TfL.
“Delivering the kind of
future London Travelwatch
envisage needs long-term
funding, abandoning the
ideology that sees staff simply
as a cost to be cut and an end
to the failed outsourcing of
supposedly ‘ non-core’
cleaning.
London TravelWatch
director Emma Gibson said
that it was safe to say that the
pandemic had
thrown into question many
of the assumptions and
predictions about how people
will travel in London in the
future.
“We need to recognise the
great inequalities that have
become apparent in the last
year and prioritise making
transport accessible and
affordable for all.
“This is our call to action to
London’s decision-makers and
policy-makers. Transport is an
integral part of life in London,
and the voice of the travelling
public needs to be included in
any future vision of London
transport network,” she said.
FUND LONDON
TRANSPORT
RMT welcomes London Travelwatch report but warns
it will go nowhere without government funding