SAVE OUR GUARDS

This is important because of health and safety issues - what if someone is having a heart attack on board and no guard to offer assistance, if the train is involved in an accident there needs to be a guard to asisst the driver etc,,,,etc,,,,etc

Some fantastic news is my local parliamentarian Jeff Smith MP for Withington, Manchester is supporting this campaign, here is his message:-

Dear Prince Frederick,

Thank you for contacting me recently about increasing rail fares, service cuts, and staff reductions on the UK rail network.

I believe that our railways are a vital public service and I agree that it is deeply concerning that rail fares increased 3.4% in January 2018. This staggering increase is the biggest fare rise in the last five years, and I am concerned that it is making rail travel unaffordable for many people. Pricing passengers off the railway threatens the sustainability of the network as a whole, and I believe the Government should cap rail fares with the consumer price index to provide clarity on pricing.

As you are aware, the RMT has been campaigning against the expansion of Driver Only Operation (DOO) services and cuts to staffing across the rail network. I agree that the Government should halt the expansion of DOO services and stop cutting jobs across the railway industry to ensure that staffing levels remain safe at all times.

I am committed to prioritising public service over private profit, which is why the manifesto I stood on at the 2017 General Election pledged to bring our railways back into public ownership. I believe this would allow us to provide passengers with real benefits, such as capped fares and free Wi-Fi across the rail network. I am confident that taking back control of our railways would provide tangible benefits for the rail users across the UK.

I believe our fragmented, privatised railway has driven up costs and left passengers paying more for less. Furthermore, I am concerned that the Government has the wrong priorities for the railway, as it has chosen to award Stagecoach and Virgin a £2 billion taxpayer bailout, at the same time as implementing the steepest fares hike in five years, de-staffing trains and pulling promised investment.

Thank you again for making me aware of your views on this issue. I can assure you that I will continue to fight for a properly funded railway run in the public interest, with fair fares and adequate staffing.

Yours sincerely,

Jeff Smith
MP for Manchester Withington

0161 445 0678 (Manchester Withington Office)
Unit 1, Withington Fire Station, 505-507 Wilmslow Road, Withington, M20 4AW

0207 219 5878 (office in Parliament)
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA