The
RMT


has
launched
a
broadside
against
third-party
ticket
retailer
Trainline,
alleging
that
the
company
is
‘profiteering’
at
the
expense
of
passengers
and
taxpayers.
The
union
claims
that
Trainline
is
also
set
to
gain
from
ticket
office
closures.

The
union
has
spoken
out
just
days
before
the
passenger
watchdogs
are
due
to
announce
their
recommendations
in
connection
with
the
proposed
closure
of
more
than
900
station
ticket
offices
in
England,
to
save
costs.
Under
the
proposals,
staff
would
move
out
on
to
station
concourses,
where
they
could
assist
passengers
directly,
but
the
RMT
has
said
that
two
thousand
jobs
would
then
be
at
risk.

The
union
has
pointed
out
that
passengers
booking
on
Trainline
are
charged
a
booking
fee,
which
does
not
apply
on
the
offcial
National
Rail
web
site.
Trainline
is
also
entitled
to
the
5
per
cent
commission
which
is
granted
to
third
party
retailers.

But
the
RMT
added
that
Trainline’s
search
criteria
do
not
give
priority
to
the
cheapest
ticket,
and
that
its
system
does
not
always
retrieve
all
the
possible
fares.

The
company
is
expected
to
earn
revenue
of
£200
million
this
year,
while
the
RMT
claims
the
closure
of
nearly
all
ticket
offices
in
England
will
save
only
£100
million.

RMT
general
secretary
Mick
Lynch
said:
‘Private
companies
and
contractors
that
are
operating
within
the
railways
are
making
a
killing
while
the
government
is
pushing
for
the
closure
of
all
ticket
offices.

‘Trainline
has
a
vested
interest
in
seeing
ticket
offices
close
and
has
even
suggested
that
such
a
move
would
be
a “possible
tailwind”
for
the
company.

‘Half
the
revenue
Trainline
is
expected
to
make
this
year
could
be
used
to
help
fund
the
railways
properly,
instead
of
the
cost
cutting
agenda
train
operators
have
embarked
upon
with
the
ticket
office
closure
programme.

‘Passengers
do
not
want
algorithms
in
apps
giving
them
the
ticket
that
the
companies
want
you
to
buy
so
they
can
make
the
most
profit.

’They
need
ticket
office
staff
who
can
recommend
the
best
and
cheapest
ticket
as
well
as
making
the
railway
a
safe
and
secure
place
for
all
to
go
about
their
travels.’

Railnews
has
invited
Trainline
to
comment.