Rail workers to stage protests outside stations amid warnings over job cuts

Rail workers will stage protests outside railway stations on Wednesday to warn about the impact of job cuts on services and safety.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) will gather at stations in London, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds to warn passengers that despite the recent increase in fares, rail companies and the Government are intent on cutting thousands of frontline staff.

The union said there will be an impact on services so passengers will be paying “more for less”.

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RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “Despite rail fares going up again the Government and rail companies are planning to slash rail services and thousands of frontline jobs at stations, on trains and on safety-critical infrastructure.

“That means our railways will be less secure, less safe and less accessible, with more expensive rail fares. Passengers will literally be paying more for less.

“Rail workers are also furious that despite being praised as key worker heroes during the pandemic the cuts are being made while the rail companies make hundreds of millions in profits.

“It’s time to put passengers before profit and we calling on the Government and rail companies to announce that there will be no cuts to rail services and staffing.”