1 November 2024
RMT Press Office:
Rail union RMT, today vowed to launch a vigorous campaign to protect ticket offices in Scotland, after cuts to hours were confirmed in a meeting with Scotrail.
The decision to cut ticket office opening hours across Scotland, which will see many ticket offices closed for large parts of the day is wholly unacceptable to RMT.
The union warns that the cuts will seriously impact passenger safety, accessibility, and security.
These controversial proposals were first introduced in early 2022 by former operator Abellio and faced overwhelming public opposition. When ScotRail came under public ownership in April 2022, RMT pressed the Scottish Government to rule out any reduction in ticket office hours. Instead, the government has now given ScotRail permission to push forward with these cuts.
Since then, the guidelines for ticket office closures have changed. Under the new process, Transport Focus, the passenger watchdog, must assess any closure proposals according to accessibility, safety, and service quality criteria.
RMT highlights that ScotRail’s plans were initially consulted on under outdated procedures, rendering them illegitimate by today’s standards.
It has been just over a year since RMT successfully campaigned alongside disabled and passenger groups to successfully keep all ticket offices open across England, Wales and Scotland.
RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said: “This decision by ScotRail and the Scottish Government is a real setback for passengers who depend on staffed ticket offices for safe, accessible, and reliable rail services.
“The proposed cuts ignore the needs of the travelling public and put essential services at risk. We call on the Scottish Government to reverse this course and maintain the services that passengers deserve.
"RMT will not accept any closures of ticket offices by stealth and the vital service will be vigorously defended by the union in a mass campaign if necessary."
END
Notes:
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RMT has consistently called for a commitment to fully staffed ticket offices to ensure a safe, secure, and accessible railway for all.
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The union is now escalating its campaign to oppose these cuts, which it says will erode the quality of service across Scotland’s rail network and leave passengers without necessary support.
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