Go-ahead to cut rail office hours (From Daily Echo)

Go-ahead to cut rail office hours

10:30am Friday 27th August 2010 in

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SOUTH West Trains, the main rail company in Hampshire, was accused of “profit-driven vandalism” after getting the green light for cuts to station ticket office opening hours.

The Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said cuts at 11 South West Trains stations in southern England, including three in Hampshire, had been approved by the Transport Department.

The RMT warned the move would lead to a deterioration in customer service and “seriously increase” the risk of assaults.

SWT, a division of transport giant Stagecoach, plans to cut opening hours at stations in St Denys in Southampton, Netley and Whitchurch and a further eight sites elsewhere on its network. Bosses are awaiting approval for hours cuts at another six stations in the south.

General secretary Bob Crow said: “Once again South West Trains has put its shareholders’ dividends ahead of any consideration for safety and service for passengers with what can only be described as profit-driven vandalism.

“These cuts will mean more deserted stations, which will mean greater risk of assault for passengers and our members, as well as locked-up waiting rooms and toilets, and they will have a disproportionate effect on people with disabilities and on women travelling alone.

“Ticket offices aren’t only about selling tickets, they are about trained, uniformed staff offering help and advice, about having a physical presence on stations to give a feeling of security and deterring assaults and vandalism.”

Mr Crow said passengers wanted to see more uniformed staff on stations, adding that SWT’s parent company Stagecoach had shown that its “sole concern” was making the maximum profit.

“Rather than approving these cuts the Government should be building into franchises minimum staffing levels that will ensure safety, security and service levels that people need.”

A South West Trains spokesman said: “The RMT claims are predictable scaremongering that just don’t stand up.

“The new ticket office opening hours, which we expect to take effect from the autumn, reflect passenger buying habits and the reduced demand for a traditional ticket office during quieter times of the week. More than 50 per cent of customers now choose to purchase their travel through ticket vending machines, over the phone and on the Internet.”