Confirmed Plans for Nationwide Closure of Multiple Railway Ticket Counters in England
The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) has announced plans to modernise England's railway by closing approximately 1,000 ticket offices, with exceptions at busiest stations. This move is set to be carried out by the company Trainline, which aims to close the majority of the remaining 1,007 train ticket offices within the next three years.
The proposed changes have raised concerns among various parties. Labour has expressed worry that these changes could worsen the "managed decline of our rail network". The RMT union, on the other hand, described the plan as a "savage attack" on railway workers, their families, and the travelling public. Mick Lynch, the RMT general secretary, stated that the ticket office closure plan has nothing to do with modernization and is a plan to reduce station staff.
The RMT union has claimed that operators have issued statutory redundancy notices affecting hundreds of staff. However, train operators have denied issuing redundancy notices but sent section 188 letters, which are legal requirements for possible widespread redundancies. Any guarantees on compulsory redundancies are set to expire at the end of next year, causing fear among many about potential job losses.
The RMT and TSSA unions have vowed to "vigorously oppose" the proposed changes. The unions' concerns are not unfounded, as the shift towards contactless payments and online buying continues within the industry. Only 12% of tickets are now bought at offices, a significant drop from 82% in 1995.
The government is pushing for these closures to save costs. England's big passenger train operators are under pressure to find savings to bridge the revenue gap, as fare income is still more than 20% down since the coronavirus pandemic and the decline in commuting amid a switch to hybrid working patterns.
The proposed closures include 131 out of 149 Northern Rail ticket offices, all stations run by Avanti West Coast, and stations such as Darlington and Durham on LNER. Office closures and support staff hour reductions will occur at stations like London Euston, Birmingham New Street, and Manchester Piccadilly.
Despite the controversy, the Rail Delivery Group has stated that ticket office staff would be moved to new roles on station platforms and concourses. The government has directly contracted England's big passenger train operators, adding another layer of complexity to the situation.
As the situation unfolds, it is clear that these changes will have a significant impact on England's railway network. The RMT union's assertion that this is not a modernisation plan but a plan to reduce staff remains a contentious issue. The unions' opposition to the proposed changes, coupled with the ongoing dispute with the train operators and the threat of more strikes, promises a challenging period ahead for England's rail network.
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