RAIL UNION RMT today pledged to mobilise an all-out fight to stop plans to close the East Coast Mainline connection between Edinburgh and Glasgow after RMT company reps were briefed by managers that the route will be axed from early 2011. A confirmation of the decision is expected early in the New Year.
The briefing to union reps on the axing of this important Scottish rail connection flies in the face of assurances from the new East Coast company and the transport secretary that no decision has been taken.
Scottish Labour MP Katy Clark will be tabling an Early Day Motion condemning the planned closure and calling on the government to confirm without delay that there will continue to be "…regular direct services between London and Glasgow on the East Coast Line."
RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:
"It is clear now that there has been a carve up behind closed doors which threatens the future of the important East Coast Mainline connection into Glasgow. We know that MP's and MSP's from all parties will be furious at this attack on a crucial Scottish rail link and RMT will be fighting all out to stop this proposal from being ratified on the 8th of January.
"Time is short and it is deeply cynical of East Coast to try and bundle this decision through over the Christmas and New Year period.
"We are urging the public to contact their MP's and MSP's urgently to wind up the pressure to block this plan before it is too late. This cash-driven plan would blow a massive hole in rail services through to north and south Lanarkshire with dire social and economic consequences and with an impact that will be felt right along the East Coast route. It must be stopped."
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