The station was among almost 1,000 ticket offices said to be at risk of closure earlier this year
"We’ve had issues recently with anti-social behaviour and criminal damage on the tracks so it is a safety issue as well. If we don’t have staff at the station to keep an eye on things then the responsiveness if something happens on the tracks will drop off significantly which just heightens the danger."
The protest was the idea of Unite Community member and local resident Margaret Batty who met up with her friend Jan Egan on a visit to an RMT picket line at Leeds Station. As regular usersstation, they were alarmed to hear from strikers about the conditions that rail operators want to impose and the potential impact.
Margaret said: “We object to the proposed closure as it would cut out so much of the accessibility for those with disabilities or the elderly who might struggle to use a machine. Ticket office staff have so much advice and are able to advise on the cost of journeys and how to get the best fares.The protest was the idea of Unite Community member and local resident Margaret Batty.
"Removing the ticket office would just make the station inaccessible to so many people. If you need assistance on the train then there is an app but that doesn’t always work so having that human connection who can help ensure the help is there to get you on and off the train is crucial."spokesperson said the Government had committed £16bn of funding for passenger services since the start of the pandemic but the rail industry needed to be taken off “taxpayer life support”.
Sandra Wyman, a regional admin for Disabled People Against Cuts, is worried the move could leave disabled people isolated after seeing the local bus route cancelled too.
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