First Capital Connect ticket-office cuts can be stopped, says RMT

Publication Date: January 12 2009

PLANS BY First Capital Connect to slash the opening times of ticket offices across its rail franchise threaten another major blow to passengers already forced to pay massive fares hikes – but they can be stopped, Britain’s biggest rail union says today.

As news emerged that the First Group subsidiary plans to cut 800 hours a week from the opening times of more than 40 stations, RMT vowed to work with passengers and MPs to keep services intact and protect loyal rail workers’ jobs.

The vast bulk of the planned cuts are aimed at 28 stations (list below), which would see their ticket office hours reduced by a total of 750 hours every week and which threaten up to 22 jobs.

Passengers have only until February 3 to object to the plans to Passenger Focus, the watchdog that could ask the government to stop them – and RMT is urging them to make their voices heard (details of how to object below).

“First Capital Connect saw its revenues grow by eight percent in the six months up to last September, and its parent group poured more than £55 million into shareholders’ bank accounts over the same period,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

“Now they are seeking to protect their masssive profits by taking the axe to the services that our members provide.

“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.

“We would urge FCC passengers to write direct to Passenger Focus [address below] and our members will be distributing postcards with which passengers can also register their objection – but they will have to get them in by February 3

“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.

ends

Notes to editors: First Capital Connect runs some of the busiest commuter services in and out of central London from King’s Lynn, Peterborough, Luton, Bedford, Hertford and Brighton, and from Wimbledon, Sutton and Merton in south London

The stations whose ticket offices are earmarked for ‘major changes’ are: Alexandra Palace, Bedford, Blackfriars, Cuffley, Drayton Park (to be closed completely), Elephant and Castle, Gordon Hill, Harlington, Harringay, Haydons Road, Hendon, Hertford North, Hornsey, Knebworth, Loughborough Junction, Luton, Luton Airport Parkway, Meldreth, Mill Hill Broadway, New Barnet, New Southgate, Oakleigh Park, Palmers Green, St Albans, Stevenage, Tooting, Welwyn North and Winchmore Hill

The passenger watchdog, Passenger Focus, has the power to object to proposals from First Capital Connect. If an objection is made then plans are referred to the Department for Transport for a final decision.

Individual passengers who wish to object to the planned cuts in ticket office hours should send their objections to Passenger Focus, Freepost, RRRE-ETTC-LEET, PO Box 4257, Manchester, M60 3AR to arrive by February 3.

RMT is also producing postcards with which passengers can register their objection – bulk copies are available from RMT, FCC campaign, 39 Chalton Street, London NW1 1JD, or from Sean Geoghegan on 020 7529 8284 or at s.geoghegan@rmt.org.uk