The Anonymous Widower

Does The RMT Care About Passengers?

I travel on trains a lot and I’ve never had anything but courtesy and fair treatment from railway staff in the UK. I’ve even had one or two, break the rules in my favour, when perhaps I’ve made a mistake. One actually said, that it was his company’s policy to put customers first, when the rule breaking was minor.

But today, there is a story on the BBC about the RMT protesting about the possible closure of the Underground ticket office at Whitechapel.  Here’s the opening paragraph.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) are protesting at Whitechapel Tube station against the possible closure of ticket offices.

Now I’ve just returned from Palermo to London by train and I only used a ticket office once.  And that was in Geneva, where I couldn’t find a machine to sell me a ticket for Paris!

i’ve only used a ticket office, once in the last three years on the Underground and that was to get a free ticket wallet.

If we’re honest, I think it is true to say that ticket offices are virtually redundant, but station staff definitely aren’t. Stand by the barrier or on the platform on any Underground station and you’ll be surprised at how many people ask questions or request help as they pass along.

Bob Crow is reported as saying this.

The threat to the ticket office at Whitechapel is a line in the sand as far as RMT is concerned and we will fight this plan tooth and nail.

I don’t think many of those on the overcrowded Dalston Omnibus on a day, when the RMT call a strike, will agree.

The RMT has also got into the stupid row about a possible third class of travel on trains. The story is reported here in the Daily Mail, who are very negative. This is in the article.

Bob Crow, left wing leader of the RMT transport union said: ‘Now we know, the door is open for the train operators to introduce third passenger class as and when it suits them.

Incidentally, I travel third class regularly on trains. It’s called Premium Economy and very good it is too, on Eurostar.

You could also argue, that First Class at the weekend, is much more of a Premium Economy class, than a true First, on many trains.

October 20, 2013 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Customer Service, London Underground, RMT, Ticketing, Trade Unions, Trains