April 2022
REGIONAL NEWSLETTER
Issue 1
CONTACT US: Your North East Regional Council can be contacted at N69a2e@rmt.org.uk
North East Region STAFF OUR STATIONS Ticket offices play a crucial role in the community but too often short-sighted TOCs attack these services under the auspice of efficiency savings. LNER were the latest operator to dress up attacks to frontline services as ‘moving with the times’, and your North East Regional Council set about highlighting these massive attacks to the general public within our region. We arranged days of actions across the LNER route and we were joined by activists, MPs, Jamie Driscoll (Mayor of the North of the Tyne), Trades Councils, and pressure groups of both pensioners and disabled passengers. LNER originally proposed to reduce ticket office opening hours by up to 48 hours per week at some stations – using simple maths, that amounts to one full-time and one part-time staff member. We believe this is the first step into completely de-staffing stations. Indeed, since this action Scotrail have proposed similar draconian cuts. As always TOCs do not appreciate the bigger picture. Under-staffed or completely unstaffed locations will quickly become a hotbed of antisocial behaviour and crime, something that would discourage rail travel and harm our industry further. There are numerous issues that would arise pertaining to accessibility and disability discrimination. These attacks would hit the poorest in society – those without reliable internet access or the knowledge to trawl through ticketing and journey options. Women travelling alone could be made to feel isolated and fearful in a society that is becoming increasingly more misogynistic. The reaction to this campaign was heartening and we will continue as a region to fight for jobs, and to highlight the issues created in a wider society relating to these cuts. The railway is ours and must remain accessible to all.