Train company to axe 480 jobs (From Bournemouth Echo)

Train company to axe 480 jobs

3:43pm Thursday 15th January 2009 in

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A LEADING train company plans to axe 480 jobs including those of managers and admin staff, it was announced.

South West Trains, which operates services throughout southern England and into London's busy Waterloo station, said it could not rule out compulsory redundancies.

"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."

The Rail, Maritime and Transport Union said the job cuts were "unjustified" and would be resisted.

SWT said train drivers, guards and frontline maintenance staff would not be affected by the proposed cuts. The company said that subject to consultation with staff, it would reduce around 480 management, administration and other roles across the company.

Taking into account existing vacancies and posts which have been withdrawn, the company said the actual number of people leaving would be around 200.

"We hope to achieve some of this through natural turnover or voluntary redundancy. However we cannot rule out compulsory redundancies. Our priority throughout this process has been to protect the core frontline service and excellent performance we currently provide to our customers."

The company said there would inevitably be changes to how it manages a number of its operations, adding: "We are very aware that these proposed changes will be difficult for this 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 2010."