RAIL union RMT continued its campaign to save almost 1,000 ticket offices today by staging protests and leafleting sessions at stations across the country.

The actions included a mass rally outside King’s Cross station in London that was planned to take place last night.

RMT has announced one-day strikes on July 20, 22 and 29 over pay, conditions and ticket office closures.

General secretary Mick Lynch said: “Our union and the travelling public do not want a dehumanised railway that will be rife with crime and anti-social behaviour, inaccessible to the most vulnerable.

“We will fight these plans all the way and need the public’s support in joining our campaign and taking part in the consultation.” 

The public has only three weeks to object to the closures by taking part in the consultation.

During transport questions in the Commons today, several MPs raised concerns at the government’s plans for the mass closure of ticket offices in England and the impact that this could have on the elderly and disabled.

Labour’s shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh said: “Railroading this botched plan through in just 21 days, without consideration for staff and disabled passengers, only risks exacerbating the managed decline of the rail network.

“Ministers should stop dodging accountability, halt this sham consultation and come clean on the damage these closures will do.” 

Public campaigns are being mounted to save individual offices threatened with closure.

In the Pennine town of Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, 50 people turned out in the rain to protest at short notice.

Labour councillor Scott Patient said: “We can’t stand by and let this happen, no way.”

The closure plans have also been condemned by disability rights campaigners.