News / Transport
Strikes called over jobs on high-speed trains
Rail workers have voted to strike over fears new high-speed trains coming to Bristol will result in job losses.
Rail union RMT said it had received assurances from operators on the East Coast Main Line that new services would have guards and a buffet car – but had received nothing from First Great Western.
Doors of the high-speed Hitachi Class 800 trains, due to serve the newly-electrified line to London from 2017, will be controlled by the drivers using a live CCTV feed – removing the need for the traditional train guard.
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The RMT entered a dispute with First Great Western in May, requesting assurances over guards, platform staff, buffet cars, the maintenance of rolling stock and any further job losses.
Eighty per cent of RMT workers voted for strike action, but a date has yet to be set by the union who said they were still open to talks with First Great Western.
Mick Cash, RMT General Secretary, said: “It is frankly ludicrous that East Coast, who are introducing the same trains, have given us the assurances we are seeking but FGW have ignored us and are crashing ahead with the ripping out of buffet cars and the threat to safety-critical station and train staff purely to maximise the profits from new trains bought for them by the British taxpayer.
He accused First Great Western of “profiteering treatment of both passengers and staff alike”.
First Great Western said in a statement: “These new trains, the largest fleet upgrade on the Great Western for a generation, will shave journey times by as much as 17 minutes, and provide the capacity we know our customers want to see – but in order to be able to do this we need to operate these trains differently to the way we operate our current 40 year-old High Speed Trains.
“The best way to make the most of these new trains, in an efficient and safe way, is by the use of driver operation of the doors.”
It added: “We are keen to talk further with the RMT to avoid our passengers and colleagues being impacted by strike action and we are seeking an early meeting with RMT.” .
