Ticket office campaign steps up

The RMT rail union stepped up its campaign to save ticket offices after train operators announced plans to close up to 1,000.

A national day of action last month saw protests and leafletting outside stations across the country, with a mass rally at Kings Cross in London.

The union says the closures will restrict passengers’ access to the best value tickets and worsen passenger service, accessibility, safety and security.

“The recent announcements of ticket office closures is a fig leaf for the wholescale de-staffing of stations,” said RMT general secretary Mick Lynch.

“Ticket office closures under Schedule 17 [of the ticketing and settlement agreement] means there will be no regulations on staffing levels at stations whatsoever.

“Train operators will then be free to staff or de-staff any station to whatever level they choose.”

The government says only 13% of all tickets are sold through ticket offices, but TSSA transport union research found this equates to 150 million rail journeys in the past year. Many passengers also purchase their season tickets at ticket offices, meaning up to 210 million more journeys stem from sales at dedicated offices.

“The figures we have uncovered demonstrate that ticket offices are as popular and vital to the railways as ever,” said TSSA interim general secretary Peter Pendle.

The closures would lead to a poorer service for the travelling public, with those with disabilities, limited mobility or young children among the hardest hit, he added.