15 November 2024
RMT Press Office:
Rail union RMT, has accused ScotRail of misleading the public over the true scale of proposed cuts to ticket office hours.
Despite ScotRail’s claims that only 54 stations would be affected, RMT analysis reveals that 101 stations – or 70% of the network’s staffed locations – will face significant reductions in ticket office hours, jeopardising the safety, accessibility, and quality of passenger service across Scotland.
ScotRail’s public claims fall far short of the reality, with an additional 47 stations set to lose critical ticket office hours.
ScotRail claims that staffing levels will be maintained.
However,
RMT warns that these cuts leave no guarantee for future staffing, as ticket offices are the only regulated staffing requirement at stations.
Closing these offices opens the door for staffing reductions by stealth, with no obligation for ScotRail to consult the public.
Mick Lynch, RMT General Secretary, said: “ScotRail are trying to pull the wool over the public’s eyes by underplaying the extent of these cuts.
"Our analysis lays bare the real picture: over 100 stations stand to lose staffed hours, putting passengers, staff, and service quality at risk.
"We are calling on the Scottish Government to stop these plans before they do damage to Scotland’s rail service.”
At some stations, reductions are so drastic they amount to closures in all but name.
For example:
- Dalmarnock faces a 90% reduction, losing 96 hours weekly.
- Wemyss Bay would see a 61% cut, reducing service by 70 hours per week.
- Ardrossan South Beach is set to lose 60% of its hours, a cut of 69 hours each week.
In total, these cuts would reduce staffed hours by nearly 2,800 across the network every week, creating a sharp decline in available ticket office services.
ScotRail’s proposals include minor increases in hours at 12 stations, largely by opening on Sundays, but RMT insists that any increase must not come at the cost of network-wide cuts, especially when nearly two-thirds of ScotRail’s stations are already unstaffed.
Mr Lynch added: "The Scottish Government must intervene and abandon these reckless cuts, so they can ensure that ScotRail provides a safe, staffed, and accessible service that Scotland’s rail passengers and communities deserve."
Richard Leonard, Labour MSP and long-time campaigner for railway workers, said: “ScotRail’s plans to cut ticket office hours by a quarter across Scotland will not just deter some people from using the railway, it will deny them access altogether.
“This is a public service and ScotRail is in public ownership. The Scottish government still has the opportunity to put the public first and reverse these cuts.”
END
Notes: The cuts represent a reduction of a quarter (24%) of hours across all Scotrail stations and its a third of the hours at the 101 affected stations.
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