Unions oppose ticket office cuts

Unions described the plans as an attack on passenger service

Rush hour commuters have been targeted by rail unions over plans to cut ticket office opening times.

Passengers at London's King's Cross have been asked to sign a petition against plans by First Capital Connect to reduce ticket office opening hours.

The move will affect more than 40 stations in London, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) warned.

First Capital Connect said ticket offices would stay open at peak times.

Stations from Luton, Stevenage and Hertford, down to Elephant and Castle and Tooting in south London, via St Albans and Finsbury Park, could see ticket offices closing at weekends and earlier in the evenings.

Huge profits

Union leaders claim office opening will be slashed by 800 hours a week if the proposals went ahead.

"This is an attack on passenger service and safety and an attack on our members' jobs at the worst possible time," said the RMT's leader Bob Crow.

"Like all the other private rail operators First Capital Connect have just imposed massive inflation-busting fares hikes despite raking in huge profits, and hot on its heels comes another blow to passengers and rail workers alike."

Unions are urging travellers to formally object to the proposals by writing to London TravelWatch by Tuesday 3 February.

In a statement, First Capital Connect said: "Any changes would be the first change to ticket office hours for some 10 years on our route and follows a comprehensive review of all our ticket sales.

"Any change would see the ticket office remain open at peak hours of ticket buying."