Ticket delays at Carlisle station

Virgin Trains says there is a temporary staff shortage

A union leader in Cumbria says passengers at Carlisle station are facing long queues for tickets and information because of staff shortages.

According to the Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union there are so few staff at Carlisle station that the ticket office only has one window open, and the information office has sometimes had to be closed.

The union says this has led to long queues and could mean people end up missing trains.

Craig Johnston, secretary of the RMT in Carlisle, said he does not understand why the company will not pay other staff overtime to cover the shortages.

Long shifts

Virgin Trains says there is a problem at Carlisle, with a temporary staff shortage due to a combination of people taking sick leave, maternity leave, and holidays.

But David Ewart from Virgin Trains says the company is doing all it can, and that it hopes to rectify the situation in the near future.

He also said anyone who was forced to board a train without a ticket, because of long queues, should explain their predicament to the train manager.

In August the RMT raised concerns about the long shifts signallers were serving in Carlisle.