RMT demands urgent investigation into Troon Station fire

RAIL UNION RMT today demanded an urgent investigation from the rail health and safety regulator into the risks posed by unstaffed stations following revelations that Troon station was completely unstaffed at the time of a devastating fire at the weekend.

In a letter to the Chief Inspector of Railways Ian Prosser RMT calls for urgent answers to a suite of questions regarding the health and safety risks of unstaffed stations and whether the extensive damage and subsequent disruption caused to rail services could have been avoided had Troon station been properly staffed.

RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said:

'The devastating fire at Troon station shines a light on just how dangerous the rail industry's plans to de-staff our stations are. Unstaffed stations not only discriminate against those with accessibility issues but also pose serious health and safety risks for passengers and other rail workers.

'Station staff play a vital role in helping deliver a safe, secure and accessible railway and it is long overdue that this cost-cutting, profit maximising measure of de-staffing our stations and trains by privatised Train Companies and the rail industry was stopped in its tracks due to glaring and serious health and safety risks.'

'Today I have written to the Chief Inspector of Railways demanding he launch an urgent investigation into the Troon Station fire and the wider programme of de-staffing our stations which is only likely to accelerate due to the Government's and privatised rail industry's cuts agenda.'

NOTES TO EDITORS