British rail companies, under pressure to save money after the pandemic-induced drop in passenger numbers and the rise of telecommuting, are considering removing a large proportion of station ticket offices in smaller towns. Rail delivery group (RDG), an industry federation, launched a sweeping 21-day public consultation on Wednesday. RDG explains in a press release that the employees who until then served travelers from the counters would be relocated to the platforms and lobbies of the station.
The RMT railway workers union denounced “train operators getting rich and the government’s attempt to decimate the railways by announcing the closure of 1,000 ticket offices” across the country.
Only 12% of train tickets are sold at ticket offices
The RDG text, which does not specify how many counters could be closed, argues that 43% of the stations that are managed by private companies under contract with the State no longer have a counter throughout the country, and that in the stations that still do have, 40% are only open part time. And “the proposals will bring face-to-face attention closer to network customers to help them choose the cheapest ticket, get advice on the best travel plan, while assisting people with accessibility problems,” says RDG.
The press release states that 82% of train tickets were sold at ticket offices in the 1990s, compared to an average of 12% today, and that most ticket purchases are now made online, a trend that it has “accelerated during the pandemic.” RDG believes that this redeployment of station staff would be “in line with what other organizations such as Transport for London”, which runs the London Underground, “most airlines, banks and supermarkets have done for a long time “. Affected employees will be offered “a range of options, including reassignment with full training.”
A consultation to avoid dry layoffs
Le project dévoilé par RDG va mettre de l’huile sur le feu du conflict social entre les compagnies ferroviaires et les syndicats, qui organisent des grèves à répétition depuis des mois pour demander des hausses de salaires en pleine flambée d’inflation, et de meilleures working conditions. Mick Lynch, general secretary of the RMT, said in a statement on Wednesday that this project, which he said will result in “hundreds of redundancy letters”, is a “savage attack on railway workers, their families and commuters”.
According to the PA news agency, a consultation is underway to avoid layoffs.
Source: BFM TV
