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MORE than 30,000 people have backed a petition opposing plans to close nearly every railway ticket office in England.
Unions, campaigners for disability and elderly rights and MPs have begun a fightback against the Rail Delivery Group’s proposals.
Transport union the RMT is urging passengers to register their opposition to the plans in a three-week public consultation as part of its Save Our Ticket Offices campaign.
Its petition opposing plans by the government and train companies to Transport Secretary Mark Harper had topped 30,000 signatures last night.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch told the Morning Star: “We’ve been inundated with public support for our campaign to stop ticket office closures and prevent the destaffing of our railway stations.
“There is only a short window to take part in the consultation and we encourage everyone to tell the fat cat rail operators that we do not want a dehumanised railway that is unsafe and run on the cheap.”
Labour shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh told the Commons today that rail ticket office closures would lead to job losses as MPs raised “huge concerns” over the impact on passengers.
Rail Minister Huw Merriman confirmed train operators would need to look at potential job losses as a result of the “transition.”
Disability equality charity Scope’s head of policy Louise Rubin said: “We’re deeply concerned that they will result in more people being stranded without the support they need.
“One in four of us is disabled. It’s vital that ministers are transparent with disabled people about their plans and disabled people are fully consulted and listened to.”
A British Transport Police spokesman said: “We’re aware of the proposed plans concerning ticket offices and will be liaising with industry colleagues as the consultation takes place.”
The petition can be found at bit.ly/TicketOfficePetition.
