Railmen take strain

Brendan Montague
Saturday November 25, 2000
Manchester Evening News

RAIL staff are bearing the brunt of passenger anger over train chaos.

Passengers are growing increasingly furious at cancellations, late arrivals and packed trains. But railworkers in Manchester are just as frustrated as their customers.

And they blame the lack of carriages, cramped conditions and bad management for the problems.

A member of platform staff at Victoria said: "People seem to hate railway men now. We get spat at, I have been pushed over myself and guards at Victoria have been threatened.
"I try to sympathise with people and they think I'm taking the mickey."

Companies are cancelling trains which are more than half-an-hour late to avoid massive fines, he added.

Rail companies deny the accusations made by their staff.
Staff can no longer order taxis before a service is an hour
overdue, or offer hot drinks, the worker added.

"People are now getting angry. I have worked here 20 years but now I hate it and want to get out."

A Virgin train driver at Deansgate Station said canteen chats often involved stories about abuse. "This guard was at the front of the train when one man started pulling other passengers off because he had to get to the airport.

"The guards are saying the job's not worth it - we're not paid to do that.

"The controller asked why they were late and there had been a punch up."

A North West Trains guard at Oxford Road said: "The commuters are just angry. The first people they come to are the crew and they abuse them."

A driver said: "The trains are overcrowded. The passengers are frustrated with it - like us. It's cost cutting."

Andy Boyack, the North West spokesperson for RMT, the union for train crew, said: "Railway staff have been on the
receiving end of irate customers.

"It is understandable that people become increasingly fed up.
"But it isn't acceptable that railway staff are put on the
front line without management back up - and without an end in sight."

A Virgin spokesperson said: "Staff are finding the travelling public very understanding and very patient at what is a very difficult time."

He added that he was proud of the workforce, but no guards
could be interviewed.

Staff at Piccadilly Station said they had not noticed increased hostility since speed restrictions and floods disrupted rail services.