RMT warns of significant threat to railway safety

8 March 2022

RMT Press Office:

Union warns of significant threat to railway safety and services caused by loss of thousands of rail jobs as national protests set for tomorrow.

Britain’s largest rail union has warned of a significant threat to rail safety and services cause by plans to axe thousands of rail jobs.

The warning came as tomorrow, 9th March, rail workers will gather at stations in London, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds to warn passengers that despite another huge increase in fares earlier in the month rail companies and the government are intent on cutting thousands of frontline staff making the railways less safe, secure and accessible. Passengers will be paying “more for less.”

Rail workers are also furious that despite being praised as key worker heroes during the pandemic the cuts are being made while the rail companies make hundreds of millions in profits.

RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said:

“Despite rail fares going up again the government and rail companies are planning to slash rail services and thousands of frontline jobs at stations, on-trains and on safety critical infrastructure.

“That means our railways will be less secure, less safe and less accessible with more expensive rail fares; passengers will literally be paying more for less.

“Rail workers are also furious that despite being praised as key worker heroes during the pandemic the cuts are being made while the rail companies make hundreds of millions in profits.

“It’s time to put passengers before profit and today we calling on the government and rail companies to announce that there will be no cuts to rail services and staffing.”

Notes to editors:

On 9^th March rail workers will be protesting and handing out leaflets to passenger warning that they are “paying more for less” at the following stations.

Station	Time	Contact
London Kings' Cross	08:00 - 09:00	RMT press office - 07831 465 103
Manchester Piccadilly	08:00 - 09:00	John Tilley, RMT Regional Organiser - 07940 244718
Birmingham New Street	07:30 - 09:00	John Watson, Regional Admin Manager Midlands - 07913 757584
Bristol Temple Meads	07:30 - 09:00	Brendan Kelly, RMT Regional Organiser - 07815 967 675
Clapham Junction	08:00 - 10:00	RMT press office - 07831 465 103
Leeds	08:00 - 09:30	Gary Jackson, RMT Regional Organiser - 07830 781752