Stop the cuts to LNER ticket office demos

Head Office Circular: NP/442/21
09 December 2021

To: The Secretary
ALL REGIONAL COUNCILS
ALL BRANCHES

Dear Colleague

STOP THE CUTS TO LNER TICKET OFFICES DEMOS

In September, train operator LNER announced proposals to reduce ticket office hours at the following stations: Berwick-upon-Tweed; Darlington; Doncaster; Durham; Edinburgh; Grantham; London King's Cross; Newark North Gate; Newcastle; Peterborough; Retford; Wakefield Westgate and York.

Under these plans, the ticket offices would open later and close earlier, with many facing a significant reduction in opening hours.

These cuts will worsen passenger service, accessibility and safety. RMT believes that cuts to ticket office hours are just the first step and that in the future, ticket offices may close altogether, and station staffing will be cut.

While the formal consultation over the proposals has closed, RMT is continuing to campaign for the proposed cuts to be withdrawn, and number of demos are taking place outside affected stations in the coming weeks.

Following a successful demo at Berwick-upon-Tweed this week, the North East Regional Council has arranged the following demos taking place next week:

Monday 13th December 2021
Newcastle Central- 09:00- 12:00
Durham- 12:40- 15:30

Wednesday 15th December 2021
Darlington- 09:30- 12:30
York- 13:00- 16:00

On Tuesday 21st December, there will be a demo outside London King’s Cross station, from 08:00 – 09:30.

Please share details of these demos with members in the relevant regions.

If you have not already done so, please also sign and share RMT’s petition here - https://www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/oppose-the-cuts-to-lner-ticket-office-hours

Yours sincerely

Michael Lynch
General Secretary