29 March 2025
RMT Press Office
Rail union RMT, is urging Avanti to address ticket office staff shortages on the West Coast Mainline, warning that understaffing is impacting passengers and putting undue pressure on existing staff.
Following a successful campaign led by RMT — with overwhelming public support — plans to close ticket offices nationwide were abandoned.
However, Avanti has yet to reverse staffing decisions made during the closure threat.
Over recent months, the company has not replaced staff who have retired, left, or taken voluntary redundancy, leading to a shortage of workers at key stations including Birmingham New Street, Manchester Piccadilly, and London Euston.
As a result, many ticket offices are now closed during advertised hours, and passengers often face long queues when they are open.
Current staff are under significant strain, with increased workloads contributing to rising sickness levels.
Instead of addressing these issues by recruiting and training new staff, Avanti is now proposing a rostering review that would effectively lock in the existing shortages.
RMT activists will be leafleting Birmingham, London and Manchester to highlight the campaign in the coming weeks.
RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey said:
“The public made it clear that they value and rely on station ticket offices. Now that these offices have been saved, they must be properly staffed. Passengers expect reliability and face-to-face service, and our members deserve the resources and support to deliver that.
“We are urging Avanti to act responsibly and restore staffing levels as a matter of priority.”
RMT is encouraging passengers to
write to their local MP and to support the union’s campaign effort.
END
Notes:
Birmingham – 7 April 2025
Leafleting outside New Street, 4–6pm
London Euston – 8 April 2025
Leafleting, 8–10am, meet at Eversholt Street entrance
Manchester Piccadilly – 11 April 2025
Leafleting, 8–10am, meet near Caffè Nero at bottom of Piccadilly Approach
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Tagged with: RMT, Eddie Dempsey, Avanti West Coast, Ticket Offices, Staffing
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