Association of British Commuters

Grassroots campaign for justice and equality in public transport. Crowdfunded legal actions, investigations and advocacy.

[Association of British Commuters @ABCommuters]

URGENT: We’re calling on MPs to ensure Passenger Rights and Public Interest Duties become core values of Great British Railways.

This can only be done by amending Clause 18, which will set the criteria for all future rail policy decisions. The amendments include:

- A strong Passenger and Disability Rights Duty
- Duty to maximise socioeconomic value
- Climate and environment duties
- Duty to achieve targets for full rail accessibility
- Duties for affordable fares and transport integration

Please help by emailing your MP - asking them to co-sponsor Amendments 29, 30 and 33, and support these values in the Commons debate this Wednesday.
https://t.co/8EwjcWiQOK

[Association of British Commuters @ABCommuters]

@flowergirl_lon @Doug_Paulley @KathsSpace @Tanni_GT We saw similar tactics on GWR and Southeastern a year ago (see blog post below). Unfortunately, it's impossible to get the ticket office staffing (Schedule 17) compliance figures from GWR as it is still in private ownership. https://t.co/MRSiAXzF9q

[Association of British Commuters @ABCommuters]

@flowergirl_lon @Doug_Paulley @KathsSpace @Tanni_GT Even worse - with 'temporary' understaffing, they don't even need to use Schedule 17 (which is not properly enforced). This technique can be used to run down ticket sales and then use Sch 17 afterwards to make them permanent. It's a form of managed decline.

[Kath @KathsSpace]

@NFBUK @RMTunion @TransportForAll @ABCommuters @TransportFocus Good Evening how are GWR allowed to change the staffing hours of a station (making it lose 3 hours staffing a day weekdays) ‘until further notice’?

[Association of British Commuters @ABCommuters]

UPDATE: The Third Reading of the Railways Bill has been postponed from Weds due to the latest Mandelson revelations. But please continue to contact MPs as it will be rescheduled soon.

[Association of British Commuters @ABCommuters]

URGENT: We’re calling on MPs to ensure Passenger Rights and Public Interest Duties become core values of Great British Railways.

This can only be done by amending Clause 18, which will set the criteria for all future rail policy decisions. The amendments include:

- A strong Passenger and Disability Rights Duty
- Duty to maximise socioeconomic value
- Climate and environment duties
- Duty to achieve targets for full rail accessibility
- Duties for affordable fares and transport integration

Please help by emailing your MP - asking them to co-sponsor Amendments 29, 30 and 33, and support these values in the Commons debate this Wednesday.
https://t.co/8EwjcWiQOK

[Inclusion London @InclusionLondon]

@ABCommuters We found the quick MP email tool really helpful if you only have 2 minutes:
https://t.co/8Fymmrd4tC
Or send your own email using the information from ABC's helpful blog post, above in this thread

[Association of British Commuters @ABCommuters]

@SpeedySticks007 @LordOrk The accessibility duty refers to infrastructure accessibility, transforming long-term investment plans eg Access For All.

Railway staffing and right to Turn Up And Go would also be protected, under the separate passenger and disability rights duty.

[Association of British Commuters @ABCommuters]

URGENT: We’re calling on MPs to ensure Passenger Rights and Public Interest Duties become core values of Great British Railways.

This can only be done by amending Clause 18, which will set the criteria for all future rail policy decisions. The amendments include:

- A strong Passenger and Disability Rights Duty
- Duty to maximise socioeconomic value
- Climate and environment duties
- Duty to achieve targets for full rail accessibility
- Duties for affordable fares and transport integration

Please help by emailing your MP - asking them to co-sponsor Amendments 29, 30 and 33, and support these values in the Commons debate this Wednesday.
https://t.co/8EwjcWiQOK

[Association of British Commuters @ABCommuters]

Many thanks to @CHinchliffMP and the 13 MPs supporting the amendments so far:

@AndyMcDonaldMP @sianberry @RachaelMaskell @NadiaWhittomeMP @EllieChowns @carla_denyer @labourlewis @IanByrneMP @AdrianRamsay @AyoubKhanMP @switherdenMP @BellRibeiroAddy and Hannah Spencer MP

[Association of British Commuters @ABCommuters]

URGENT: We’re calling on MPs to ensure Passenger Rights and Public Interest Duties become core values of Great British Railways.

This can only be done by amending Clause 18, which will set the criteria for all future rail policy decisions. The amendments include:

- A strong Passenger and Disability Rights Duty
- Duty to maximise socioeconomic value
- Climate and environment duties
- Duty to achieve targets for full rail accessibility
- Duties for affordable fares and transport integration

Please help by emailing your MP - asking them to co-sponsor Amendments 29, 30 and 33, and support these values in the Commons debate this Wednesday.
https://t.co/8EwjcWiQOK

[RMT @RMTunion]

RMT calls for insourcing of all railway staff following GTR nationalisation

Rail union RMT, demands all Govia Thameslink Railway staff be brought into direct employment after the train company became the latest to be brought under public control.

The union has been campaigning for all elements of the railway to be taken into public ownership and has welcomed the commitment by the government to launch Great British Railways with track and train all nationalised.

However, thousands of cleaners, gate line, security staff infrastructure maintenance, renewal and engineering workers, will remain employed by private contractors despite the Labour government's commitment to undertake the biggest wave of insourcing in a generation.

General secretary Eddie Dempsey said: "We want to see all our members on the railway receive the same benefits of public ownership and this includes outsourced workers.

"The Labour government needs to follow through on its commitment to undertake a mass wave of insourcing.

"Railway workers in outsourced companies work just as hard and contribute just as much to public transport as those directly employed.

"Across our union, thousands of outsourced workers are growing increasingly frustrated at having poorer wages, no sick pay and being treated as if they are a second-class workforce.

"RMT will industrially and politically maintain pressure on the government until it fulfils its obligations to our members."

📸 https://t.co/DSPSOlltN8

[Association of British Commuters @ABCommuters]

Good Riddance Govia!

Now let's see @transportgovuk fix the damage. Priorities should include:

◾️ Re-staff the network + end Driver Only Operation
◾️ End fake 'brands' Thameslink, Southern, etc
◾️ Improve timetabling + increase services
◾️ Integrate fares + end ticketing chaos

[Bring Back British Rail @bringbackBR]

Good Riddance Govia!🚆

We’re celebrating Thameslink, Southern & Great Northern finally back in public ownership today👏

This marks the end of a decade long fight begun by our friends @ABCommuters during the #SouthernFail crisis in 2016

Read more here https://t.co/ZZAIQetKo7

[Bring Back British Rail @bringbackBR]

Good Riddance Govia!🚆

We’re celebrating Thameslink, Southern & Great Northern finally back in public ownership today👏

This marks the end of a decade long fight begun by our friends @ABCommuters during the #SouthernFail crisis in 2016

Read more here https://t.co/ZZAIQetKo7

[JELLY HEAD @LordOrk]

Disabled passengers on transport issues ahead of local elections

Getting on/off buses and trains, lack of info to passengers, accessibility at railway stations, problems caused by slopes and surfaces on platforms are some issues raised by disabled people https://t.co/mU7AVT7HF6

[Disability News Service @johnpringdns]

Rail sector’s ‘scandalous’ failure to use accessible travel data from huge and unique ticket office consultation
@ABCommuters
https://t.co/UxFfLFchLJ

[Gareth Dennis @GarethDennis]

The utter decimation of bus services in recent years is the last bonfire of the firesale that was bus deregulation back in 1986.

It cannot be overstated how massive its impact has been on the cost and quality of living for millions of people. This is GREAT policy.

[We Own It @We_OwnIt]

You can't have a successful railway without staff🚆

Public ownership must mean more staff at our train stations.

Email your MP now: https://t.co/XGaWCwJOlZ

[Sam (Flower Girl) Jennings @flowergirl_lon]

@networkrail disabled people have the EXPLICIT legal right to spontaneous travel - ‘Turn up & Go’

What’s this notice for please?
This reads as though you think that you can decide whether to behave lawfully or not owing to staff availability?

Cc @TransportCttee @railandroad

[Better Buses for Strathclyde @BetterBusesSPT]

Do you want the new @ScotParl to get on and deliver Better Buses? 🚌🚏

Please take 2 mins to email your candidates:
📨 https://t.co/nAcazoCJnz

And join one of our events in the run-up to the election on 7 May 👇🧵

[We Own It @We_OwnIt]

"This is not a bill that is going to give us real nationalisation of the railways".

Jenny Jones of at our Tug of War for the future of our railways outside Parliament today.

Find out which MPs have tabled amendments to the new Railways Bill. https://t.co/vTI18eyLUH

[JELLY HEAD @LordOrk]

@Christiane When will @railandroad take enforcement action against Southeastern and instruct them to provide an improvement action plan for systemic reported passenger assistance failures ?

Time to stop looking the other way - continuously monitoring is not good enough

@HoCcommitteesUK