RMT has announced that it is launching a campaign to stop London Overground ticket offices from closing.
A total of 51 offices are up for closure after Arriva Rail London and Transport for London launched a consultation into the closures.
The union will be leafleting stations with campaign postcards on the 3rd October 2018 as part of a day of action.
The proposed ticket offices set to close are Acton Central, Anerley, Brondesbury, Brondesbury Park, Bruce Grove, Bush Hill Park, Caledonian Road & Barnsbury, Camden Road, Canonbury, Carpenders Park, Clapton, Dalston Kingsland, Dalston Junction, Finchley Road & Frognal, Gospel Oak, Hackney Central, Hackney Downs, Hackney Wick, Haggerston, Hampstead Heath, Hatch End, Headstone Lane, Homerton, Honor Oak Park, Hoxton, Imperial Wharf, Kensal Rise, Kensington (Olympia), Kentish Town West, Kilburn High Road, Penge West, Rectory Road, Rotherhithe, Shadwell, Shepherds Bush, Shoreditch High Street, Silver Street, South Acton, South Hampstead, Southbury, St James Street, Stamford Hill, Stoke Newington, Surrey Quays, Theobalds Grove, Turkey Street, Wapping, Watford High Street, West Hampstead, White Hart Lane and Wood Street.
If these closures go ahead, the rail union believes that passengers:
• May not be able to access all the tickets and services needed from a ticket machine
• Find it harder to obtain advice on tickets and fares
• Would be frustrated that there were insufficient numbers of ticket machines
• Would experience more delays and concourse congestion
• Who are disabled, elderly and vulnerable may be less confident using a ticket machine and may end up overspending or being deterred from travelling
• That by leaving stations understaffed and sometimes unstaffed it will make it harder to provide a safe and secure environment — especially with CCTV left unmonitored.
What did the officials say?
RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:
“I am calling on Mayor of London Sadiq Khan to oppose this retrograde plan for wholesale closures in the strongest possible terms. Ticket offices play a crucial role at train stations.
“London needs to welcome its passengers, visitors and tourists not with a machine, but a welcoming and friendly ticket office who can provide a full range of services.
”This is just the latest attack on a properly staffed, safe, secure and accessible railway for all and RMT is determined to halt these plans in their tracks.”
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Responses
Just before the Class 710 Aventras are due to enter service late this year. Very sad.
3 previous comments appear to refer to something altogether different!
Meanwhile, back on London Overground, many stations function perfectly well enough without a single ticket office between them. London Underground stations now work better with staff out in front of their passengers instead of hiding from them behind glass walls. Changes to working practices? Resistance is futile!
I all so think the crossrail should came to Suffolk Ipswich because if go Essex should be able to came to Suffolk Ipswich Suffolk 😎
All so very much need a cafe shop or better wait room at Lowestoft Suffolk station
East Anglia need a 24 hours sevice from Lowestoft Suffolk to London Liverpool Street station and half sevice from Ipswich Suffolk to Lowestoft Suffolk and fast train from Norwich station and all so need better toilet at Lowestoft Suffolk station and beccles need update toilet s really need the train really fast train,