Member Article

RMT launches new wave of protests as off-peak fares are axed

Rail union RMT is launching a wave of protests as part of a campaign against cuts to jobs and services on the York-based Northern rail franchise, as a range of off-peak fares are axed on Monday September 8.

The union has slammed the Government and Northern Rail for ‘secretly colluding’ to axe the off-peak fares from Monday purely in the name of private profit.

RMT has blasted the moves as “a kick in the teeth for the travelling public and a taste of what’s around the corner under the new Northern and Trans-Pennine Express franchises if the community don’t stand alongside rail workers in the fight to stop the destruction of rail services right across the North”.

A new postcard, following on from the 10,000 cards collected in opposition to the plans under the franchise consultation, will be distributed from Monday with the public urged to pressure MP’s to sign EDM 174, opposing the Northern and Trans-Pennine Express proposals, and calling for Councillors and Local Authorities to register their opposition.

According to RMT the abolition of the off-peak evening fares will apply to the following areas: • Travel South Yorkshire • Transport for Greater Manchester • Metro West Yorkshire • Routes radiating out of the above areas • The Hexham-Newcastle line

RMT acting general secretary Mick Cash said: “The axing of off-peak fares is a savage kick in the teeth for people already struggling with the burden of low pay and austerity and the fact that it has been cooked up by the Department for Transport in collusion with the privatisation pirates from Northern Rail is a warning of what’s to come.

“RMT is giving the people who use the rail services an opportunity to have their say.

“Let’s not forget that the core of the Government’s future plans for Northern and TPE is to axe jobs, throw the guards off the trains and jack up fares while capacity to meet surging rail demand in the area is left to stagnate.

“That attack on the fare-paying public has already begun and only an all-out and coordinated fight can stop the savage assault on rail in the North.

“RMT is now launching the next phase of the fight to both inform the public and fight the savage cuts being lined up for these Northern rail franchises and to get MP’s signed up to EDM 174 opposing this carve-up. It is absolutely essential now that we keep up the pressure.”

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