Opposition is growing to rail company London Midland’s proposed cuts, with transport bosses and union leaders joining forces to criticise the company’s plans.
It was revealed earlier this week that the train company, which holds the franchise for local services in the region, plans to shed 130 jobs as part of a review of its approach to ticket sales. However, West Midlands passenger transport authority Centro and rail union RMT have both condemned the proposals, which will dramatically reduce staffing levels at local stations, with some of the busiest in the area being completely unstaffed.
Centro bosses have written to Transport Minister Theresa Villiers urging her to look closely at London Midland’s plans. In a joint letter to Ms Villiers, Centro chairman Councillor Angus Adams, vice chairman Councillor Jon Hunt and Opposition Group Leader Councillor John McNicholas said, “The proposals would be totally unacceptable to passengers. When London Midland was awarded the franchise to run stations in the West Midlands it was done so on the basis of specific staffing levels. To reduce them by such significant numbers would have a major impact on passengers.”
Councillor Adams added: “Their rationale for deciding changes fails to take into account the wider benefits of staff presence at stations, including the critically important role in reassuring passengers. We have made our disproval clear to London Midland.”
RMT general secretary Bob Crow, speaking to The Birmingham Press, accused London Midland of creating a “criminals’ paradise” if stations are left unmanned. It is expected that almost all the 90 stations London Midland runs throughout the region will be staffed only from 7am-2pm on weekdays, with eight others, including Jewellery Quarter which is used by almost 300,000 passengers a year, completely unstaffed. Mr Crow added “We have to apply public pressure to prevent a dangerous situation on the region’s rail network. Someone may die because of these cuts.”
There is also anger amongst rail staff at the way in which the consultation was announced, with many station employees being informed by phone, in some cases while they were at home. Bob Crow added, “Staff have been treated disgracefully. London Midland are trying to scare them into accepting a situation which the employees themselves know is not true.”
London Midland launched the consultation by claiming that the way in which customers buy tickets is changing and they wish to cater for this trend. Their commercial director Alex Haynes, assured passengers that “Our high standards of customer service will not be compromised by any changes we eventually make to our ticket office opening hours.”
How this can be achieved when trained staff are replaced with a CCTV link and a help button remains to be seen.
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