RMT - National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers

09/17/2021 | News release | Distributed by Public on 09/17/2021 01:59

RMT calls for action from Transport For Wales

RMT calls for action from Transport For Wales over toilet facilities on new trains on Core Valley Lines.

RAIL UNION RMT has called for urgent action over a lack of toilets on the new Stadler Flirt Trains due to be introduced on TFW Core Valley Lines next year.

The union has raised serious concerns about the impact on those with disabilities and the risk of abusive and anti-social behaviour both on trains and at unstaffed stations unless services are improved.

The union has set out its key concerns:

- On busy services on Friday / Saturday night revellers may not wait to use the station toilet.
- If revellers do use station toilets their friends may be holding doors open stopping the train from departing.
- Unstaffed stations means the toilets will attract vandalism and other anti social behaviour.
- The elderly, disabled and women may be reluctant to get off and use toilets on unstaffed stations impacting on already disadvantaged groups.
- Staff will have to deal with unruly behaviour due to absence of toilets.
- Risk-of abuse and assault if passengers relieve themselves on the train and guards or other passengers intervene.
- no risk assessments have yet been carried out.

RMT has set out the action that needs to be taken by TFW:

- Staff needed at unstaffed stations particularly at night.
- Additional security will be needed on trains.
- An increased British Transport Police presence to mitigate the issue‎s.
- Disabled toilets required on the trains.
- consultation with Guards Reps on these issues which has not happened as yet.

RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said:

'There are serious issues on these new Stadler trains that TFW need to address in consultation with the union.

'It shines the spotlight again on lack of station staffing and the disproportionate impact on disadvantaged groups.

'RMT is fully prepared to engage in both full risk assessments and further discussions involving our local reps.'