TSSA celebrates as ticket office fight taken to Parliament

Rail union TSSA today welcomed the news that a petition calling for ticket offices to remain open reached the 100,000 signatures needed for the matter to be debated in Parliament. 

The online petition, created by Elizabeth Garnsey, declares ‘We want the Government to require train operators to keep ticket offices and platform staff at train stations, to help maintain health and safety standards and customer information.’

The petition smashed the 100,000 signature mark, over a month before it was due to close. The result also follows the news that a consultation on the closures received a record-breaking 680,000 responses.

TSSA Interim General Secretary Peter Pendle commented, “This is a remarkable response, and just shows the power of the public.

“Time and again we have seen the Conservatives attempt to ignore the solid arguments that trade unions, disability and pensioner groups and the public have given them for keeping ticket offices open. 

“They might think they can sneak these closures through the door, but these numbers show it won’t work. We know a terrible idea when we see it, and we won’t be talked down.

“Now, there will be no more hiding. We look forward to seeing the Government held to account for these nonsensical and deeply unpopular plans.”