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RMT accuses government officers of TransPennine rail axe stitch-up

Rail union RMT accused government transport officers yesterday of planning to axe services under a new northern English rail franchise.

East-to-west TransPennine Express services are up for grabs.

Transport officials carried out a public consultation, but RMT said that decisions appeared to have been made to axe some destinations even before it had been completed.

“The withdrawal of the service to numerous towns would be a hammer blow to the people who rely on the service and to the local economy,” said incoming RMT general secretary Mick Cash.

The union said the planned cuts were contained in a briefing letter to staff.

But the Yorkshire coastal town of Scarborough has been protected.

Scarborough’s MP is junior Transport Minister Robert Goodwill.

The union has written to Transport Minister Patrick McLoughlin in protest at the expected axing of destinations.

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