Call centre job fears

The Northern Echo understands that Sea Containers, the owner of East Coast Mainline operator GNER, has been attempting to dispose of Baron House, which handles train ticket sales.

The call centre, based in Newcastle, does not form part of the East Coast franchise, and as such, will not automatically pass onto GNERs successor National Express when it takes over the contract on December 9.

Should no deal be struck between Sea Containers and National Express to take over the centre, its future and that of the 220 people that work there would be uncertain.

Sea Containers has been forced to rapidly slim down its operations as part of a financial restructuring since filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US last year.

Brian Brock, a regional organiser with the TSSA union, which represents ticket office staff, said: "I have asked National Express what they are doing and until they make that decision we are a bit lost.

"The call centre is key to the franchise and the set up there is great.

"The options are either that National Express takes it over or Sea Containers sells it to a third party.

"Our preferred option is that they take it over."

In the past 12 months Baron House handled more than two million enquiries from customers and generated more than 65m worth of ticket sales.

Last week it was recognised in a Europe-wide industry awards ceremony for its effort a better service to customers through a programme of continuous improvement.

National Express was handed the reins to East Coast Mainline services following a Department for Transport competition earlier this year.

It will replace GNER which has operated trains on the route for the past 11 years.

A spokeswoman for National Express said: "We are discussing the future of the Newcastle call centre with Sea Containers.

"We understand the good work that is done there and we are trying to sort something out as speedily as possible."