SW TRAINS TO CUT STAFF DESPITE PASSENGER GROWTH - HUHNE

5.55.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 25th Jun 2008

Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne said that SW Trains' decision to cut ticket office staff across the network was "bizarre and short-sighted" given the evidence of sharp passenger growth at almost every station where the 140 job cuts are targeted.

Mr Huhne drew attention to figures released by RMT, the rail union, showing that there had been big increases in usage at Chandler's Ford, Netley and Hedge End, all three stations in the Eastleigh area where ticket offices would be closed on Sunday and cut back on other days under SW Trains' plans.

Mr Huhne said: "Chandler's Ford station is just picking up nicely but these ticket office cuts will certainly not help it re-establish itself, having opened again so recently.

"The figures show there were more than 18,000 more entries and exits at Chandler's Ford in the latest year than the year before, a rise of 10.2 per cent in just one year. This is a pattern that is also repeated at Hedge End and Netley.

"When I was in business, we used to say if it isn't broke don't fix it. For some reason, SW Trains thinks it can get the passenger growth without providing the service.

"The cuts in ticket office staff will not only reduce travellers' options on special tickets, since you cannot quiz a machine, but they will also make many people feel less safe in using a deserted station. SW Trains should reverse these cuts".

Lib Dem Prospective MP for Chandler's Ford and Winchester, Martin Tod, added: "Given the rapidly increasing use of Chandler's Ford, why are South West Trains cutting back on staffing? After seeing the problems at Winchester after South West Trains closed the travel centre there, I'm not confident that South West Trains have thought this through properly. Will people get the off-peak fares and discounts they're entitled to when stations are closed? If more people are paying to travel, South West Trains should be improving the service not cutting it back".