Plans for a huge number of train station ticket closures across the country could see 75 jobs in the Liverpool City Region cut, with 18 local stations left without a ticket office facility.
Union bosses have described the shock proposals from the government and the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) representing private railway operators as 'absolute madness' and warned they will have a 'devastating' impact on vulnerable and disabled rail users around the city region.
The plans unveiled this week would see up to 1,000 ticket offices across the country shut down permanently, in what the RMT union has labelled a 'savage attack' on railway workers, their families and the travelling public.
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In our region, the union says 75 jobs could be lost as 18 ticket offices look set to close - all of which are currently operated by Northern.
The proposals, if approved after a 21-day consultation period, would see ticket offices at Edge Hill, Wavertree Technology Park, Roby, Huyton, Prescot, Eccleston Park, Thatto Heath, Garswood, Whiston, Rainhill, Lea Green, St Helens Junction, Earlestown, Newton-le- Willows, Mossley Hill, West Allerton, Halewood and Hough Green close. This could result in the loss of 61 jobs.
While ticket offices are set to remain at Liverpool Lime Street and St Helens Central stations, a further 14 jobs could be lost through reduced hours at both sites.
Responding to the plans, Darren Ireland, RMT regional organiser for the North West said: "Clearly the effect of these plans will leave large parts of the network completely de-staffed for large parts of the day, leaving passengers extremely vulnerable.
"The impact will be devastating and we are calling on Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram and the Combined Authority to intervene at a ministerial level to try and overturn this disaster for passengers and the rail industry."
"This is not just about selling tickets, it is about helping disabled and vulnerable customers and it is about the safety of passengers on the railway, many of whom will have nowhere to turn at these stations."
"Our members are absolutely devastated. This is a massive kick in the teeth for them after four years without a pay rise, to now find themselves facing the prospect of no job and no income during a cost of living crisis."
The union says it is urging rail passengers and the general public to object to the proposals on their website to extend the consultation period.
The proposals are facing a widespread backlash, including from the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, who has suggested the move could be illegal.
Mr Burnham, who is facing losing 50 ticket offices in his Greater Manchester Region, told BBC Radio Manchester: "The provisional advice I've got is that the train operators, one of them in particular, should have done a provisional equality impact assessment, particularly for the effect on disabled people or older people who will be probably the most impacted by this decision. They didn't do it.
"Now I'm just finding out from my team, therefore, whether this consultation on this proposal is actually legal."
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “The government’s plans to railroad through these ticket office closures without due process or any consultation with local leaders are the latest act of wanton vandalism in their managed decline of the railways. They don’t invest in infrastructure, and won’t even invest in the staff to ensure that the railways are safe and accessible to everybody.
“Our local Merseyrail stations will be immune from the operators’ plans because we control our own network and reached an agreement with the unions previously. But the picture across the rest of the region is bleak. 90% of Northern Rail-run ticket offices will be be closed.
“Removing staff visibility from stations will only help drive an already failing rail system further into the ground and does nothing to build public trust in public transport.
“Locally, we’re starting to see a steady recovery in patronage on our network since the pandemic, but we know this is not the case nationally. Instead of investing in our railways, the government is showing a reckless disregard for passengers and staff alike. I’ll be writing to the Secretary of State for Transport to express my grave concerns."
Following the rail industry announcement, Tricia Williams, chief operating officer at Northern, said: “Across all business sectors the way people consume, access and purchase products and services has changed. Rail is no different - only 1 in 6 journeys on Northern services are purchased through a ticket office, this compares to almost half of all journeys in 2018. We need to modernise to meet the changing needs of our customers and we are seeking views from the public on these proposals.
“Along with the rest of the rail industry, Northern is sharing proposals on how we plan to change how we support customers at our stations.
"These proposals include the creation of a new, more visible customer facing role that will offer a wider range of support across our stations. This new role will mean that the traditional ticket office is no longer required at most staffed Northern stations, except for 18 at hub locations, that will have amended ticket office opening hours."
While many stations across the city will see ticket office closures, none of those closures will take place on the Merseyrail network. As a devolved rail network, the responsibility for the service does not lie with the government but with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and the ECHO understands there are currently no plans for any ticket closures on the network.
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