Train Station Ticket Office Closures: A Grim Reality
In a concerning development, the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) has announced the closure of nearly all train station ticket offices. As part of this controversial move, staff will be relocated to station platforms and concourses. Although ticket office facilities will remain open at the busiest stations, the majority of stations will be affected by this decision.
To ensure passengers are informed about the potential closures, posters have been prominently displayed in various stations. However, the final decision on which offices will be axed lies in the hands of the Government, who are currently undergoing a consultation process. Although the timeline for these closures is uncertain, the RDG estimates that the closure program will last for approximately three years.
Aslef Strike: The Fight for Fair Pay
Members of the Aslef union are taking industrial action in pursuit of a pay rise. In their efforts to negotiate with the government, the union’s negotiating team, consisting of general secretary Mick Whelan, assistant general secretary Simon Weller, and executive committee president Dave Calfe, have criticized the government for their lack of response.
The last meeting between the Aslef negotiating team and the employers, the Rail Delivery Group, took place in April under the agreed post-pandemic framework of the Rail Industry Recovery Group. However, since then, there has been no communication from key figures such as the Secretary of State for Transport and the Rail Minister. As a result, the union members feel ignored and neglected.
Mick Whelan, expressing his frustration, likened the situation to the game “Where’s Wally?”:
“Do you remember Where’s Wally? Well, what we want to know is Where’s Harper?”
“We last saw the Secretary of State for Transport in December.”
“We last saw Huw Merriman, the Rail Minister, in January.”
“And we last saw the train companies in April.”
“Since then, nothing. Nada. Zilch. Not a letter, not an email, not a text message, not a phone call, not a WhatsApp. Not a word!”
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