Rail union bosses ‘won’t accept’ increasing train services as lockdown eases

Rail union bosses revolt over plans to restore rail services to 85% in two weeks’ time and warn ‘they won’t accept’ increases ‘if they puts lives at risk’

• Aslef, RMT and TSSA unions written to Prime Minister voicing ‘severe concerns’
• They have warned that increasing services would send out a ‘mixed message’ 
• Argue ‘mixed messages could be dangerous and lead to public flouting the rules 

By Amie Gordon For Mailonline

Published: 07:42 BST, 4 May 2020 | Updated: 08:03 BST, 4 May 2020

The country’s three biggest rail unions have today written to Boris Johnson, warning that increasing train services will be ‘dangerous and lead to the public flouting the rules.’

Union leaders have voiced ‘severe concerns’ over any moves to increase train services as part of the expected easing of the economic lockdown.

RMT’s Mick Lynch told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that ministers want to be running 85%-100% of services within a fortnight despite it not being ‘safe’.

The three main rail unions Aslef, RMT and TSSA, have now written to the Prime Minister warning that increasing services would send out a ‘mixed message’ that it is okay to travel by train, despite official advice suggesting otherwise.

The letter was signed by the general secretaries of Aslef, the RMT and the TSSA, Mick Whelan, Mick Cash (left) and Manuel Cortes (right)

Commuters seen using the tube at Canning Town station this morning

‘This mixed messaging could be dangerous and lead to the public flouting the rules on travel and work,’ they said.

They also pointed out there was no agreement on how services can be increased whilst protecting workers and passengers through social distancing and personal protective equipment.

The letter continues: ‘We will not accept new working patterns that put the lives of railway workers and passengers at risk.

‘To be clear – we are not convinced that there is any basis at this time for a safe escalation of services.

‘We therefore call on the Government and train operators to work with us in establishing where there is a real demand to increase services and, where that demand exists, how it can be delivered safely.

‘There will have to be an industry-wide agreement with the unions that any increase in services does not increase danger and the risk of virus transmission for our members, for passengers, or for our communities.

‘Seeking a blanket increase in services as part of a symbolic and premature drive to apparent normality, at the potential risk of countless lives, is completely unacceptable to us.’

The letter was signed by the general secretaries of Aslef, the RMT and the TSSA, Mick Whelan, Mick Cash and Manuel Cortes.

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