24 October 2014
RMT Press Office
RAIL UNION RMT today exposed secret plans that would lead to the axing of buffet cars on First Great Western and East Coast Inter-City services.
RMT negotiators have uncovered this shock move buried in the detail of the plans for new fleet of Inter-City rolling stock for both FGW and the East Coast Mainline. Under the proposals for the new trains there will be no buffet car available to standard class with the service replaced by a trolley operation.
FGW have already removed the popular traveling chef services this year clearly in preparation for the plan to reduce services to passengers even further with the new IEP trains. The new Pullman food service that has just been introduced from Swansea to Paddington will also now be under threat as a result .
The union said today that it will be launching a major campaign to defend the buffet car service on First Great Western and on the East Coast Mainline and the jobs that go with the current catering operations. The campaign will target service users and politicians the length of FGW and East Coast’s inter-city service.
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said ;
“RMT is shocked and appalled at the plans to try and smuggle in the axing of the buffet cars under the cloak of the new Inter-City fleet replacement programme.
“The union has warned from the off that both catering and the guards would be in the firing line from the introduction of these new trains and those fears have proved well founded thanks to the diligence of RMT representatives who have uncovered this plan to axe the buffet cars.
“Passengers, paying massive fares, will be disgusted at this attack on the standard of service and the union will be taking our campaign out to those customers and to the politicians along the length of the lines affected. This move is solely about profits, profits for First Group on Great Western and profits for whoever picks up the new, private East Coast franchise.
“RMT will fight this latest profiteering attack on jobs and services with every tool in the box.”
ENDS
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