Member Article

Rail Union RMT pledges "all out fight" against Northern Rail plan

RMT has announced a campaign to fight what it believes is the “wholesale destruction of jobs, services and safety” on York-based Northern Rail and TransPennine Express.

It comes as the contracts to run Northern Rail and TransPennine come to an end and expire in February 2016.

Before this, the government will put both franchises out to tender to the companies who they believe will run the services best.

It is likely that Abellio and Serco, who currently run Northern, and First Group, now behind TransPennine, will take part in the bidding, to start before the end of this year.

This is in reaction to government’s launch of a public consultation on the future of the two rail companies. The outcomes of the consultation will be shared with those battling for the franchises so they can take on board the needs of passengers.

RMT acting general secretary Mick Cash said: “It is clear as day that the full force of the McNulty cuts programme is to be unleashed on Northern and Trans Pennine Express in an exercise that would slash jobs, destroy safety and axe ticket offices and other passenger services while allowing fares and profits to soar through the roof.

“RMT is gearing up for a political, industrial and public campaign to stop this act of savage vandalism to rail services across the north and into Scotland dead in its tracks.

“Rolling stock and investment is being shipped south to maximise profits on other lucrative franchises that are closer to the homes of the political elite driving this rail-austerity programme, while the north is systematically robbed of capacity despite surging demand.

“The message to the public could not be clearer – “pay more to travel on overcrowded, unstaffed trains where your safety is reduced to a lottery”.

“The only solution to this on-going scandal on our railways is public ownership. RMT is demanding an urgent meeting with both Rail North and the Government over these shocking cuts plans for key rail services.”

Stepgen Hammond MP said on the public consultation:“ There have been great improvements in the railways nationally and regionally since privatisation.

“We have seen record growth in passenger numbers, achieved much higher levels of passenger satisfaction and one of the best safety records in Europe.

“This growth has been particularly strong in the north of England with both franchises experiencing greater numbers of passengers than predicted when the franchises were last let.

“We want to continue to build on this and to deliver excellent railway services for passengers across the region; providing value for money for both passengers and taxpayers.

“We are confident that our developing partnership with Rail North will help to bring a stronger local focus to the two franchises.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .