Rail protests over 'more for less'
Claims of 'a significant threat to railway safety' is behind today's protests
Britain’s largest rail union has warned of a 'significant threat to rail safety and services caused by plans to axe thousands of rail jobs' as they protest at stations including Bristol's Temple Meads.
Rail workers will gather at stations in London, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds to warn passengers that 'despite another huge increase in fares earlier in the month rail companies and the government are intent on cutting thousands of frontline staff making the railways less safe, secure and accessible'.
Passengers will be paying “more for less” is their motto, with an RMT spokesperson adding: "Rail workers are also furious that despite being praised as key worker heroes during the pandemic the cuts are being made while the rail companies make hundreds of millions in profits."
RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said: “Despite rail fares going up again the government and rail companies are planning to slash rail services and thousands of frontline jobs at stations, on-trains and on safety critical infrastructure.
“That means our railways will be less secure, less safe and less accessible with more expensive rail fares; passengers will literally be paying more for less.
“Rail workers are also furious that despite being praised as key worker heroes during the pandemic the cuts are being made while the rail companies make hundreds of millions in profits.
“It’s time to put passengers before profit and today we calling on the government and rail companies to announce that there will be no cuts to rail services and staffing.”
In response, a Rail Delivery Group spokesperson said: "The pandemic has been an unprecedented financial shock to the railway.
"The whole industry needs to respond to the challenges we face with the acceleration of changing travel patterns and more passengers migrating to digital technology.
"Train companies are working with unions on how to address those changes, while making sure the industry takes no more than its fair share from the taxpayer."