25 September 2018
RMT Press Office:
RAIL UNION RMT announced today that is launching a campaign to save 51 London Overground ticket offices.
Arriva Rail London (ARL) and Transport for London (TfL) have launched a formal consultation on the proposed closures which ends on 11th October.
The union will be leafleting stations with campaign postcards on the 3rd October as part of a day of action.
A campaign page on the RMT website at http://bit.ly/2QNLYkE allows supporters to send an e-mail direct to London TravelWatch opposing the station closures.
Proposed ticket offices to be closed 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 changes go ahead RMT 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; and
• 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.
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.”
Ends.
Note:
There will be an event for press and media with RMT national officials opposing the ticket office closures at Camden Road station at 8am on 3rd October.
Unity House
Tel: 020 7387 4771
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