Avanti West Coast ticket offices and station staffing
Tabled 25 March 2025 by Rebecca Long Bailey
That this House understands that First Group majority-owned rail operator Avanti West Coast has been undertaking a stations rostering review; is alarmed at reports that this review may be used to undermine ticket offices and station staffing, with Manchester Piccadilly, Birmingham New Street and London Euston stations particularly affected; recognises that the RMT union has longstanding concerns about Avanti’s failure to fill station staff vacancies and its widespread reliance on fixed-term contracts, leading to delays at ticket offices and closures of ticket offices during their regulated hours; is concerned that these issues persist despite the overwhelming opposition to the 2023 ticket office closures proposals which demonstrated the importance of ticket offices and staff for many passengers; acknowledges that a recent Transport Committee report found that the ticket office closure plans risked significantly damaging people’s access to rail and the presence of staff is often a crucial determinant as to whether disabled people are able to travel by rail; expresses concern that Avanti’s proposals risk detrimental impacts on passenger safety, service and accessibility; notes that Avanti paid out dividends of £8.1 million in 2024; further notes that Avanti is on a National Rail contract managed and funded by the Government; and therefore calls on the Government to instruct Avanti to permanently fill all existing vacancies, transfer staff on fixed term contracts onto permanent contracts and ensure its ticket offices and stations are properly staffed.
Signatories (22)
- Rebecca Long Bailey Sponsor
- Ayoub Khan
- Neil Duncan-Jordan
- Jim Shannon
- Kim Johnson
- Cat Smith
- Shockat Adam
- Jon Trickett
- Grahame Morris
- Apsana Begum
- Richard Burgon
- Liz Saville Roberts
- Ben Lake
- Llinos Medi
- Ann Davies
- Ian Byrne
- Ian Lavery
- Bell Ribeiro-Addy
- Steve Witherden
- Lorraine Beavers
- John McDonnell
- Tim Roca