Rail company to cut 46 jobs

RAIL operator Virgin Trains East Coast is said to be cutting 46 jobs according to a transport union.

The Transport Salaried Staffs Association said that in a memo to staff, Virgin had announced that the creation of “customer zones” would mean 31 staff face the cut at the travel centres, and another 15 in stations.

TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes said: “This looks like another cost-cutting exercise at the expense of passengers and staff, all dressed up as improving customer service.

“It looks to us it will mean longer queues and more expensive tickets because we have not yet got the technology to sell the whole range of tickets through hand-held machines.

“The cuts seem to be part of a wider agenda attacking staffing conditions across other franchises.

“A ballot on industrial action cannot be ruled out.”

A Virgin spokesman told the Morning Star: “We have big plans for the East Coast franchise with £140 million of investment aimed squarely at making the customer experience the best it can be. Where any changes affect our travel centre colleagues, we will be consulting fully with them and the TSSA in due course.”