Workers Union Step Up Campaign Against Proposed Closures Of Silverlink Ticket Office

by Benson Agoha | Transport

* Look of former Silverlink Trains. (Credit: via Wiki).

RMT Workers Union has stepped up campaign against closures of Ticket offices formerly used by Silverlink Trains.

The North London Line of Silverlink Trains ran between North Woolwich and Richmond but serivice closed between North Woolwich and Stratford on Saturday 9 December 2006 after the DLR began operations and would duplicate the route.

A statement released today by the RMT Union said they are campaigning to oppose the proposed closure of Gunnersbury, Harlesden, Harrow & Wealdstone, Kensal Green, Kenton, Kew Gardens, North Wembley, Queen's Park, Stonebridge Park, South Kenton and Wembley Central station ticket offices.

RMT begins campaign as Mayor of London's office gets consultation underway before the closure of the offices.

Today RMT said it is stepping up the fight against the London Mayor’s proposals to close the ticket offices located across north London.

RMT said its activists and supporters will be leafleting passengers at several locations including Queen's Park, Wembley Central, and Harrow and Wealdstone during the morning rush hour from Monday 18 January, with a demonstration planned at Queen's Park from 07.30 on Wednesday 20 January.

Accusation:

RMT is accussing the Mayor of London's office of pursuing the closure programme to save costs.

It "is all about Transport for London facing accelerated budget cuts," RMT said in the statement, adding "London Travel Watch is now formally consulting as it is required to do as these are ex National Rail stations." 

Why RMT Is Campaigning Against The Closure:

RMT said it is opposing the closure of the stations because it adversely affect passengers that: 

* would not be able to access the full range of tickets and services they need from a ticket machine.

* would find it harder to obtain advice on ticket and fare options without a staffed ticket office.

* would be confronted with insufficient numbers of ticket machines (due to them being in high demand or faulty) and would experience delays and the concourse would be more congested.

* would be vulnerable if they were less technically minded, perhaps including the elderly, disabled or visitors, who may be less confident using a ticket machine and could end up overspending or being deterred from travel.

* would be confronted with understaffed and sometimes unstaffed stations which will make it harder to provide a safe network, with CCTV left unmonitored. 

Mick Cash, RMT General Secretary said: “RMT is opposed to these cash-driven, ticket office closures across a swathe of north London which we believe will lead to passengers getting ripped off and which will create a criminals’ paradise as stations are left understaffed and unstaffed in the drive to meet Government spending targets." 

He said “RMT is launching a campaign to harness public opposition to this latest blast of ticket office closures and we are asking the public to stand with their staff and to register their formal opposition on the London Travel Watch website.”