RAIL staff are set to lose their jobs in a shake-up of North Western Trains.

Union bosses claim up to four station supervisors' jobs will go in Bolton as more than 40 jobs are axed across the North-west.

Today, the company confirmed positions would be chopped but would not say where or how many.

National Union of Rail Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) officials have accused North Western Trains of putting passenger safety at risk in a bid to maximise profits.

But the rail firm, owned by the giant international transport organization First Group, said the cuts had to be made following a year-on-year squeeze on the amount of subsidy it receives from the Government.

RMT divisional organiser Andy Warnock-Smith said: "The level and quality of service which will result from the latest swinging of the axe is far short of the business and leisure travel needs of the North-west. The situation has now reached the stage of being unacceptable, as is the job loss scenario."

He said the RMT was initiating a campaign against the company to expose "this cynical abandonment" of North Western Train's franchise promises.

North Western Trains spokesman Keith Lumley said: "It's true we are carrying out a review of the organisation from management right down to station level and it will mean there will be reductions of staff at some stations. Our subsidy is being reduced by £14m next year and we have difficult financial targets."

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