Closure Dates Set For Local Tube Station Ticket Offices

Controversial change to start at Turnham Green in April

The timetable for the closure of ticket offices on the London Underground network has been announced with work expected to impact local stations in Chiswick from April 2015.

Tfl says the transformation works will take place at Turnham Green Station for one month from starting between Apr - Jun 2015. Chiswick Park is set to have its works for a month between Oct - Dec 2015.

From that point there will be no fixed position in the station from which you can buy a ticket but staff will be available to sell tickets around the station, according to the transport company.

TfL said 85 per cent of all transformation works across the network will be completed by December 2015 and all works will be finished by April 2016.
You can read the TfL timetable here

The plans have been described as 'lethal' by the RMT union who continue to threaten strike action over their implementation. Despite the closures it is understood that under these plans the stations will be staffed for the same hours as they are currently.

Last September the figures were analysed by Londonwide Assembly member Murad Qureshi and showed Turnham Green faces losing 42% of its staff (or 4.6 full time equivalent staff), one of the highest losses across the network.

Chiswick Park and Stamford Brook would lose nearly a quarter of the current staffing level of 6 posts, with a 23% cutback, (loss of 1.4 equivalent staff), while Ravenscourt Park would see no cuts at all, but would see a 17% increase (the equivalent of almost one full-time job).

Murad Qureshi said: "The closures timeline announced by TfL means that the process for closing the ticket offices in 8 stations in the borough of Hounslow will start in April next year. The closures will also see almost 900 staff cut from the tube stations.

He expressed particular concern about the impact the staff cuts will have on disabled and elderly passengers.

"Despite the reduced staff service planned for tube stations, fares are once again due to go up just a month before the closures start, this will mean fares have risen 40% since Boris Johnson became Mayor.

“More people than ever are using the tube network yet Boris Johnson’s cuts will mean hundreds fewer staff there to help passengers. It is outrageous that just a month after Londoners face another round of fare rises, Boris Johnson plans to cut the service they are offered. It’s a real case of the Mayor asking Londoners to pay more and get less in return.

“This fight isn’t about whether staff are based in ticket offices or on platforms, it’s about whether there are enough staff overall to provide customers with a good service, particularly the elderly and disabled."

Transport for London warn that the dates are subject to change and confirmation will be provided nearer the time of the proposed works. Customer notifications will appear in stations at least two weeks before any changes take place. 85 per cent of all closure across the network will be completed by December 2015.

December 12, 2014