12 January 2022
RMT Press Office:
RMT pledges to fight plans to cut ticket office hours at 120 ScotRail stations and warns that cuts will create a “muggers paradise” across the network
RMT pledges to fight plans to cut ticket office hours at 120 ScotRail stations and warns that cuts will create a “muggers paradise” across the network
RAIL UNION RMT today condemned an announcement by Abellio ScotRail that it is proposing to cut opening hours at nearly all of its ticket offices across Scotland. The Company has published proposals to reduce ticket office hours at 120 stations, including the complete closure of three ticket offices.
RMT is wholly opposed to cuts to ticket offices and believes that these will deter passengers from the rail network and make it less accessible for disabled and elderly passengers. Cuts to ticket office hours worsen passenger service, safety and security by reducing the times that staff are guaranteed to be present at stations and make it far easier for operators to reduce overall staffing levels in the future.
The Scottish Government is already fully funding and managing the ScotRail franchise and will be directly operating it from April 2022. These short-sighted attacks on ticket offices make a mockery of the Scottish Government’s climate change and car reduction targets. RMT is therefore calling on the Scottish Government to intervene as a matter of urgency and withdraw these damaging proposals.
General Secretary Mick Lynch said:
“Cuts to ticket office hours will do nothing to restore passenger confidence in Scotland’s sustainable rail network which has a central role to play in delivering modal shift away from high carbon transport. These proposals affect nearly all of the ticket offices in Scotland and will undoubtedly worsen passenger service and accessibility as well as turning many of our stations into a mugger’s paradise.
“Failed operator Abellio has just weeks to go before it exits its role in Scotland’s railway. It has already proposed significant reductions in service levels and RMT questions why the Scottish Government is permitting it to propose more cuts that will harm Scotland’s railway. The Scottish Government is already fully funding the franchise and will be directly managing it from April 2022.
“It is disappointing that appears to be following the Westminster Government by presiding over a damaging cuts agenda rather than seeing the rail network as central to Scotland’s economic recovery. The Scottish Government should step in and urgently retract these proposals.
“RMT is firmly opposed to ticket office closures and cuts and will be campaigning publicly and politically in the coming weeks to oppose these short-sighted attacks on Scotland’s railway.”
Ends
Notes for Editors
ScotRail is proposing changes to opening hours at 120 stations including the closure of three ticket offices – details are available here - https://www.scotrail.co.uk/scotrail-ticket-office-consultation
The public consultation, held by the watchdog, Transport Focus, opens on 12th January 2022 for three weeks. Feedback can be provided in writing to Transport Focus Freepost (RTEH-XAGE-BYKZ), PO Box 5594, Southend on Sea, SS1 9PZ or by email to schedule17.sr@transportfocus.org.uk
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