FIVE rail jobs will be lost, following the decision by a passenger watchdog to close its York office.

The national Rail Passengers' Committee says the office, in Holgate Park, will be wound up as part of a national cull, which will also see regional offices in Glasgow, Birmingham, Peterborough, Bristol and Cardiff closed.

The York committee, which was set up to help passengers who had complaints against rail operators, is being closed as part of proposals contained in the Government's Railways Bill.

Its five workers could be among the 33 staff who are set to lose their jobs under a reorganisation of the committee, which will see workers levels nationally cut from 72 to 39.

An committee spokeswoman said it was likely that the York office would be closed by the end of the year. The committee was in negotiations to sell the lease on its Holgate building.

York MP Hugh Bayley said the news was sad for those workers, who might now have uncertain futures.

The Government claims the changes will make things more "efficient and more effective". Critics say the overhaul is about saving money.

The spokeswoman said: "The office in York will be closed between July and December. The speed of that decision depends on the Railways Bill, which is currently going through the Commons.

"The existing RPC and committee network is expected to be wound up around the end of June or early July.

"There will be opportunities for some workers, but there will be some redundancies as well."

The existing committee network for York and the North East will be replaced by a team of "passenger champions" who will represent each of the country's 2,500 railway stations.

"One of the main functions of the York office was to support the regional committee. As that will no longer be there, there is no need for the office."

Mr Bayley said: "It is sad news to hear uncertainty about the future of York-based jobs. The Government is acting on requests to make the RPC independently-based.

"People seem to think the Government is moving in the right direction on this. The new RPC needs to be representative in the regions and I have written to the chairman to ask how he is going to appoint representatives in York."

Updated: 10:10 Monday, February 14, 2005