RMT identifies 330 station “crime hot spot and no-go areas”

5 October 2017

RMT Press Office:

RMT identifies 330 station “crime hot spot and no-go areas” if Northern Rail proceed with plan to sack Guards.

IN ADVANCE OF TODAY’S STRIKE ACTION over Northern Rail’s plans for Driver Only trains RMT has named 330 unstaffed stations which it fears will become crime hot spots and no-go areas for vulnerable and disabled passengers if rail bosses get away with their plans.

A list of the unstaffed stations is attached together with a map showing unstaffed stations.

Rail Northern Map

Although these stations are currently unstaffed, protection and assistance for passengers and the train driver at stations is provided by the Guard who is on all trains.

Northern is planning for at least 50% of services to have no Guards with many lines and routes completely unstaffed. RMT is warning that removing the guard from trains which will then also travel through 330 unstaffed stations will result in a cocktail of dangers where passengers and the train driver are more exposed to crime and anti - social behaviour while disabled and older passengers will not be able to get on and off the train when they wish to.

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said,

“No staff on many routes and lines, no staff on the stations and no staff on the trains travelling through these stations means there will be a cocktail of dangers at the locations we have identified which will increasingly become no-go areas for vulnerable passengers and new crime hot spots. At the same time our isolated drivers will be on their own, increasingly exposed to anti-social and violent behaviour.

“As well as these dangers there will be also be disadvantages for disabled and older passengers who require assistance because there will be no one there to help them on and off the train or provide assistance during their journey.

“These are yet another set of reasons why the Prime Minister should stop us sabotaging a deal with Northern and why we will keep up the fight for a safe, secure and accessible railway with properly staffed stations and a Guard on every train.”

ENDS

The list of unstaffed stations is taken from Arriva Northern’s Disabled Peoples Protection Policy

https://be803fe5c416e39d38ae-aa21086260d3bd4e072d597fe09c2e80.ssl.cf3.rackcdn.com/images/policy/2017-06/ARN-Making-Rail-Accessible-June-2017.pdf

The areas to which the stations are allocated are primarily taken from the national rail website description of station locations and using geographical counties. Areas may vary depending on different definitions for defining areas (eg county, region etc) http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

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