2014-09-03 Rail investment strategy: South West Trains (Department for Transport)

2014-09-03 Passengers to benefit from £210m train order for UK's busiest commuter network (South West Trains)

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date 15 January 2009
source South West Trains
type Press release

In common with other rail operators, we have carried out a review of our cost base to ensure we are operating as efficiently as we can in view of reduced passenger growth and an increasingly challenging economic climate.

We are proposing to reduce the costs of our rail operation and make some changes to the way we manage our business, but we will continue to operate the same number of train services for our passengers.

Subject to consultation with staff, our plans will involve a reduction of around 480 management, administration and other roles across the company. Train drivers, guards and frontline fleet maintenance staff are not affected by these proposed changes.

Taking into account existing vacancies and posts which have been withdrawn, this will mean the actual number of people leaving the company will be around 200. We hope to achieve some of this through natural turnover or voluntary redundancy. However, we cannot rule out compulsory redundancies.

In line with our responsibilities, today we have begun consultation with trade unions about these plans. Our priority throughout this process has been to protect the core frontline service and excellent performance we currently provide to our customers.

There will inevitably be changes to how we manage a number of areas of our operation. We are also very aware that these proposed changes will be difficult for those staff affected.
But we are all aware we are operating in an unprecedented economic environment, which is affecting all areas of the economy, from the public sector and voluntary organisations to small businesses and major companies. We expect this challenging climate to continue through 2009 and into 2010.

As a result, we believe it is important to take the correct and decisive action now for two key reasons. It will allow us to maintain high-quality train services for our customers and will also ensure we have a successful and secure business, which continues to provides jobs for thousands of people and allows us to grow when the economy improves.

Railhub Archive ::: 2009-01-15 SWT-001