RMT calls for an end to cuts at Glasgow Queen Street Travel Shop

RAIL UNION RMT is today calling on the Scottish Government to ensure that Abellio Scotrail’s damaging proposals for Glasgow Queen Street travel shop are withdrawn.

Glasgow Queen Street is Scotland’s third busiest station, yet under Abellio Scotrail’s plans for the redeveloped station, there will be a reduction of two-thirds in the number of retail positions in the station travel shop. Scotrail is planning just two open plan ‘pods’ to serve the whole station, which has over 17m passengers pass through annually.

RMT believes that the proposals will worsen the customer experience, lead to increased queuing and make it more difficult to enforce social distancing at the station.

Under the plans, staff and passengers will no longer have the protection of a fully glazed screen. RMT believes it is absurd, that as companies across the country are putting protective screens in place in response to Covid-19, that Abellio Scotrail is planning the complete converse.

RMT believes that the proposals must be withdrawn and reviewed in light of these concerns and in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic and the need to protect staff and passengers.

RMT Senior Assistant General Secretary Mick Lynch said;

“RMT has serious concerns about the safety, security, accessibility and customer service implications of Abellio Scotrail’s proposals for Glasgow Queen Street station, particularly in light of Covid-19 and the need for social distancing.

“Reducing the sales points by two-thirds at one of Scotland’s busiest train stations will lead to a significant deterioration in the passenger experience, and it is clear that this part of an agenda to force passengers away from the expertise of a fully staffed ticket office.

“It is disappointing that, so far, the Scottish Government has refused to intervene on these concerns. I have written to the Scottish Government today to demand that these damaging proposals are withdrawn and to call on Abellio Scotrail and Transport Scotland to commit to constructive and meaningful talks with the RMT on this matter.

“RMT will take all steps necessary to protect our members.”


ENDS.