Rail ticketing plan is 'a direct attack' on our society as unions denounce plans

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RMT and CWU chiefs write joint article on savage review of station facilities that could lead to closure of ticket offices at transport hubs across the country

RMT's Mick Lynch (

Image: PA)

Union leaders have called the threat of mass train ticket office closures a "direct attack on the fibers that hold our society together".

Mike Lynch, general secretary of the RMT rail union, and Dave Ward, leader of the Communications Workers Union, launched a joint attack on the proposals announced this week.

Train operators across England have launched a 21-day consultation which could see almost all station ticket offices close within three years.

The two General Secretaries compared what is on offer to what is happening at Royal Mail, where hundreds of parcel collection depots are said to have their opening hours reduced.

“Yet these are universal services that are part of the very fabric of our democracy,” they said, warning the two affected that the services “target those most in need of access to services.” in person: the elderly, the disabled and the most vulnerable in our society.”

Almost all station ticket offices could close within three years (

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Maureen McLean/REX/Shutterstock)

The pair continued, "These moves are also indicative of today's business leaders – paid to break businesses, not grow them.

"Anyone with ambition and foresight would see in-person services as a showcase for their business and a chance to sell products and increase sales. Today's leaders get their bounties by destroying old great businesses, eliminating them and putting payments to shareholders before anything else."

Mr. Lynch and Mr. Ward looked at the Labor lead...