Sadiq Khan launches probe into Boris Johnson's Tube ticket office closures

Ticket office probe: Sadiq Khan
PA
Pippa Crerar|Dick Murray7 September 2016

Sadiq Khan has ordered London’s transport watchdog to investigate Boris Johnson’s controversial Underground ticket office closures.

The six-week review, which will be begin next Monday, will look at the impact of the closures on passengers to make sure they can still travel safely on the Tube, buy the right tickets easily and access information and support.

The transport manifesto pledge will be carried out by the independent London TravelWatch, with a report expected to be published before the end of the year.

Plans by former Mayor Mr Johnson to close up to 268 ticket offices and axe hundreds of staff were revealed by the Evening Standard three years ago.

The closures sparked repeated protests, with unions claiming passenger safety was being put at risk, especially those travelling late at night. However, Labour insiders claimed during the mayoral election that Mr Khan had no plans to reverse the closures, saying he just wanted a moratorium on any more being shut until his review had been completed.

The first ticket offices were closed in February 2015 at South Wimbledon and Queensway Tube stations.

Since then all ticket offices at Tube stations have been closed and staff have been out in halls and on gates instead.

Transport experts believe that re-opening them could be a costly exercise at a time when TfL’s budgets are already under pressure.

Mr Khan said: “Millions of Londoners use stations across our transport network every day, and it’s vital that everyone feels safe and gets the right support and information they need when they travel around our city.”

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