Train fares may rise to foot £7m bill for 2nd rail staff member
THE cost of putting a second member of staff on all Merseyrail rail trains has been revealed – and the multimillion-pound bill could mean a rise in fares.
The news comes after the RMT Union and transport officials ended a bitter dispute over the future of guards on trains last month, and it was announced a second member of staff will be on board each service once the new fleet comes into service from 2021.
It has now been revealed that the move will cost “as much as £7m per year” in operating expenditure, although that is dependent on wage inflation over time.
According to a report to be discussed by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s monthly meeting this week, the authority, through its transport body, Merseytravel, will be liable to pay the entire amount.
After Merseyrail announced its intention to abandon the “driver only” trains plan last month, it was revealed the dispute process had raised some proposals that would cover some, but not all, of the funding. A joint statement from the authority, Merseyrail and RMT said additional means would also need to be considered that could mean a crackdown on fare evasion and increased ticket prices.
That statement, released on August 31, said: “In order to pay for a second member of staff on each train, additional funding will now need to be generated.
“Productivity proposals have come forward from the ACAS process that will cover some of the required funding; however, additional means will also need to be considered by all parties, which could include an enhanced crackdown on fare evasion and increased fares.”
Entitled “rolling stock update: industrial issues”, the report to be discussed this week said any proposals for how the bill is paid “will need to be accompanied by robust and rigorous financial modelling”.
The new trains were designed to be operated by the drivers alone, without guards.
That sparked a furious reaction from the RMT, and a campaign to make sure a second safety-critical member of staff remained on every train.
The union held strikes, which were suspended while conciliation service ACAS helped settle the dispute. It is expected it will take several months for a final agreement to be reached, which will include agreeing the role and safety responsibilities of the second member of staff on board the trains.
There will be no further industrial action while talks continue.
The report also said there were “significant financial risks” to the combined authority that need to be addressed before any changes can be agreed.
Members will be asked on Friday to agree to authorise officers to explore options for keeping a second person on board.
Concluding, the report added: “The new fleet programme promises to be truly transformational in nature and the first of our new trains are already in production. Resolving the outstanding industrial relations issues will enable all parties to look forward to this new era with confidence.
“All parties are in agreement that any such solution will need to be conditional on affordability and as such Merseytravel are asked to work with Merseyrail to present options to the combined authority for financing the second person role on each train.”