Train bosses furious!!!

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Main story in another thread - posting here on industry reaction

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67263931

Plans to close hundreds of rail ticket offices in England have been scrapped.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said the government had asked train operators to withdraw their proposals.

The plans, which were put forward by train companies in a move to cut costs, had sparked concerns from unions and disability groups.

Passenger watchdog Transport Focus said it objected to the proposals, saying it had heard "powerful and passionate concerns" about the potential changes.

Rail operators had argued only 12% of tickets are now bought at station kiosks.

Transport Focus said it had received 750,000 responses from individuals and organisations in a public consultation.

Ticket machine capability, accessibility and how passenger assistance and information would be delivered in future, were the main themes of concern, according to the group.

Mr Harper said the government had made it "clear to the rail industry throughout the process that any resulting proposals must meet a high threshold of serving passengers".

But, he added: "The proposals that have resulted from this process do not meet the high thresholds set by ministers, and so the government has asked train operators to withdraw their proposals."

However, a senior rail source told the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) train bosses were "furious".

"They have been made to sell these plans, defend them and change them to try and get them over the line. All in the face of the inevitable onslaught of criticism. All of these plans were approved by officials and ministers at the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about). To say they fell short of their expectations is totally disingenuous."

I can 110% understand that fury ...

[JayMac]

That's the price you pay when you make a deal with the devil.

Or in this case, with politicians who have one eye on a forthcoming election.

[Electric train]

That's the price you pay when you make a deal with the devil.

Or in this case, with politicians who have one eye on a forthcoming election.

Yep politicians change their minds more often than people change their socks.

The whole debacle has damaged to working relationship and trust between the Train Operators, their staff and the Unions