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TORY Rail Minister Huw Merriman continued his tour of northern England yesterday, arriving in Huddersfield in West Yorkshire — by car.
Protesters had gathered to greet him with questions about the government’s plan to close almost 1,000 rail ticket offices and about the long-running disputes with rail workers which unions say the government has prolonged for 14 months by handing hundreds of millions of pounds in taxpayers’ cash to rail operators in compensation for profits lost through strike action.
However Mr Merriman arrived two hours late by which time most protesters had dispersed.
He ignored a handful who were left and dined in Huddersfield station’s first class lounge with Colne Valley Tory MP Jason Mcartney.
On Thursday, Mr Merriman was “greeted” by protesting rail workers and passengers at Appleby railway station in Cumbria after travelling on the historic Settle to Carlile rail line.
Mr Merrimen took refuge in the station’s ticket office, which faces closure, where managers locked him and themselves in but not before transferring a buffet lunch to the ticket office as protesters chanted outside.
