20 August 2026
RMT Press Office:
RAIL union RMT has called on the government to instruct Northern Trains to cease trials that reduce gate line operations.
The union understands that Northern Trains has instructed Carlisle Support Services (CSS) to hold trials that reduce the operation of gate lines on the Northern contract at many locations including St Helens Central, Blackburn, Harrogate, Skipton, Rochdale and Wigan Wallgate.
RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey stated that only last month the government rail minister had announced investment in physical gate lines across the country to prevent fare evasion which was losing the taxpayer millions in lost revenue.
“Open gates and no checks will not only lead to more fare avoidance but increase anti-social behaviour as the gate lines often act as a physical barrier.
“We will be writing to the rail minister Lord Peter Hendy to point out that Northern Trains plans flatly contradict what the government is trying to do,” he said.
ENDS
PHOTO: By GerriitJan - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=181604410
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