Tube plan to shut 144 ticket offices is ‘risk to passengers’

The RMT union says passengers will be put at risk if 144 ticket offices close

London Underground is planning to close 144 station ticket offices, putting passenger safety and 1,200 jobs at risk, union bosses claimed today.

The RMT union says it has received leaked details of cuts forming part of Mayor Boris Johnson's plan to reduce spending by £5 billion.

Union leader Bob Crow claimed the move would put passengers — particularly women travelling at night — at risk and accused LU of a drive "towards unmanned operation of stations". He warned of a major campaign, including strike action, to prevent the cuts.

The 1,200 jobs under threat would be in addition to 1,000 already axed, according to the union. The RMT says it has obtained information from LU's Operational Services Review which indicates "savage reductions are being proposed across the Tube network".

In his election manifesto the Mayor, who is also chairman of Transport for London, stated he would ensure "there is always a manned ticket office at every station". Today Mr Crow challenged him to demand "the binning of this cuts plan".

Under the plans, only ticket offices at main Tube stations would stay open as usual. Those at smaller central stations would open only at peak times or in "key locations". All other stations would only have machines.

The Evening Standard's Safer Stations campaign, launched in 2006 after the murder of Tom ap Rhys Pryce as he left an unmanned Kensal Green station, has highlighted passengers' fears.

TfL did not deny the union claims but said decisions had not yet been taken. "As we invest billions to upgrade the network, we will be running more frequent and reliable services. Given the economic climate and the need to be ready for changes that will arise when the upgrades are delivered, we are looking at options for how we can be best organised in future."

* Relief is on the way for 200,000 Thameslink commuters on Brighton to Bedford trains after drivers' union Aslef urged 550 members to accept a new pay deal worth five per cent over two years. Operator First Capital Connect has had to cancel up to 200 services a day after drivers stopped overtime and rest-day working.

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