Northern response to RMT talks ending without resolution - 5 April

Richard Allan, deputy managing director of Arriva Rail North, said: “It is disappointing that RMT was unwilling to move from its position of no change during our talks today.

“If we are to modernise and give our customers the improvements they’ve been asking for we have to change the way we work, just like any other business or industry.

“Our employees also want us to talk about changes we need to make to the on-board role as we modernise our railway. We believe we would keep a second person on many of our services and, at some locations, we may choose to staff the station to give better support to customers. In addition to protecting jobs and current pay, we are also willing to offer future, annual pay reviews for existing conductors if we can agree a deal with RMT.

“It is hugely disappointing that the union is making demands rather than working alongside us in developing our plans to modernise local rail services in the North. There is so much we would like to discuss and urge RMT to get back round the table to work with us on the guarantees we want to give our employees.”