Plans to shut train station ticket offices could lead to 2,000 job losses, documents reveal – as RMT boss Mick Lynch says he has not met government minister since January as rail unions prepare for strike action this week

• Plans to close 974 out of 1,0007 ticket offices could see 2,000 job losses
• RMT chief Mick Lynch says he has not met the government since January 

Train operators are preparing to cut 2,000 staff in line with plans to close almost every train station ticket offices in Britain. 

Rail companies have already outlined proposals to make thousands of job cuts by October – even though the government is yet to approve the planned ticket office closures.   

Plans to close 974 out of 1,007 railway station ticket offices were first announced by industry body Railway Delivery Group on 6 July.  

Now, confidential documents seen by the Sunday Times show the plans could lead to thousands of job losses, if they are signed off  by Transport Secretary Mark Harper. 

Any job cuts could worsen tensions with transport unions, who are currently in a stalemate with the government as they prepare for more strikes this Thursday. 

Any job cuts could provoke fury among transport unions who are already planning to strike this Thursday (File photo: RMT union general secretary Mick Lynch at a rally) 

Industry body Railway Delivery Group is calling for hundreds of ticket offices to be closed, amid declining sales from ticket offices. 

Rail Delivery Group’s claims just 12 per cent of tickets are now bought from ticket offices compared to 88 per cent in the mid-1990s.

The plans would see hundreds of ticket offices close at Paddington, Euston, Birmingham New Street, and Manchester Piccadilly – four of the UK’s ten busiest stations. 

Scotland’s busiest station, Glasgow Central, which serves 15.3 million passengers each year, could also lose its ticket office.  

The proposals would also threaten ticket offices which are still frequently used, such as at Barnstaple station, where 46 per cent of tickets are bought from the station’s ticket office. 

Current rules mean ticket offices are only usually closed if sales fall below rates of 12 per hour. 

Rail Delivery Group says its plans would see staff moved out of ticket offices into new ‘multi skilled customer help roles’ that would see them take on a wider set or responsibilities. 

If approved by the government, the selected ticket offices would be phased out over a three year period. 

Train operators have outline plans to cut 2,000 jobs as they prepare to close 974 ticket offices across the country (File photo: A closed ticket office in Morecombe) 

The proposals are modelled on the successes seen on the London Underground network in which staff were moved out of ticket offices in 2015. 

Railway Delivery Group claim it is already possible to purchase 99 per cent of all tickets online. 

Critics, however, say ticket office closures would disproportionately effect vulnerable customers, including elderly people, visually impaired people and disabled people. 

Job cuts in turn threaten to provoke fury among railway unions, who are already set to strike this Thursday following more than a year of industrial action. 

RMT chief Mick Lynch today told Sky’s Sophy Ridge that he has not spoken to any government minister since January. 

‘We’re available to talk to them, but I don’t think I’ve met a Government minister since January, and even the employers now have stopped negotiating,’ Mr Lynch said. 

The RMT chief said strikes will continue until an agreement has been reached, as the transport union prepares for more strikes on 22 and 29 July. 

Peter Pendle, interim general secretary of the Transport Salaries Staff Association (TSSA) union, told the Sunday Times: ‘Under the Department for Transport plans, nearly 2,000 ticket office staff jobs nationally will be lost — the biggest number since privatisation.’ 

‘It’s scandalous that the train operators already have detailed redundancy plans in place when the consultation has another ten days to run. Closing booking offices is going to have a terrible effect on many vulnerable rail users. 

The train operators’ plans could see ticket offices closed at some of Britain’s busiest train stations 

A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery group, said: ‘It’s not appropriate to speculate on the outcome of the public and union consultations taking place on the proposals to change the way train operators sell tickets to customers.

‘No redundancy notices have been served to staff. Alongside public consultations, train operators have issued a letter to trade unions which opens consultation on managing the transition in a way that minimises the impact of the changes.’

‘Train companies are committed to treating staff, who are hugely valued, fairly and will continue to engage constructively with unions at a local level to manage the transition.

‘Nearly half of all stations don’t have staff or a ticket office, with 40 per cent of stations staffed on a part time basis. No final decisions about any individual ticket offices can be taken until the completion of a public consultation.’

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