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Lib-Dems: Boris Johnson's plans will cut 7,500 ticket office hours a week
Martin Robinson24 Aug 2010
Tube ticket offices across London are to have their opening hours slashed by a total of almost 7,500 hours a week, it was claimed today.
The London Assembly Liberal Democrats believe the Mayor's plans to cut about 800 jobs and move staff onto station and platform duties in 278 stations will result in nine out of 10 ticket offices being shut more often.
Transport for London says the changes are necessary because only one in 20 journeys starts with a ticket office transaction and 80 per cent of all journeys are made with an Oyster card.
Eight of the stations sell fewer than 10 tickets an hour. It has criticised the RMT and TSSA unions for threatening strike action after only about a third of their members voted in favour.
The Lib-Dems say that busier stations such as Monument, Bromley-by-Bow, Charing Cross and Waterloo will each lose up to 80 hours per week.
Group leader Caroline Pidgeon said: “The harsh reality is that if you can't access a ticket office for most hours of the day it is effectively closed.
“If staff numbers are severely reduced at nine out of 10 stations it will become far more difficult for staff to help disabled and vulnerable customers and other people who need assistance, including visitors.”
