YORK-BASED rail operator East Coast is set to cut 28 travel centre posts in a move which has been fiercely criticised by a union chief.

The firm, which runs the London to Edinburgh route through York, plans to buy new ticket machines at its 12 stations instead and appoint five new bosses.

Employees affected will be offered the chance of other jobs in the company, which has said no compulsory redundancies will be made. But the TSSA union has accused it of making the changes to pay for new catering arrangements on its trains.

The rail operator plans to provide complimentary food and drink for first-class passengers at their seats from May, replacing traditional restaurant cars, as it tries to avoid a repeat of the multi-million-pound catering losses suffered by the previous operator, National Express East Coast.

It intends to encourage more people to travel by first-class rail rather than air, with snacks and drinks included in fares.

An East Coast spokesman said the firm planned to increase the number of jobs on board trains. The number of travel centre staff will be reduced by 28 across East Coast’s 12 managed stations.

TSSA general secretary Gerry Doherty claimed East Coast’s proposals were “an insult to both hard-working staff and loyal passengers” and said the Government should step in.

He claimed more than 100 jobs could go at East Coast and said: “Cutting back on travel centre staff will also force passengers to use ticket machines which sell more expensive and a more limited range of tickets.”