Passengers at London's King's Cross have been asked to sign a petition against plans by First Capital Connect to reduce ticket office opening hours.

The move will affect more than 40 stations in London, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) warned.

First Capital Connect said ticket offices would stay open at peak times.

Stations from Luton, Stevenage and Hertford, down to Elephant and Castle and Tooting in south London, via St Albans and Finsbury Park, could see ticket offices closing at weekends and earlier in the evenings.

Huge profits

Union leaders claim office opening will be slashed by 800 hours a week if the proposals went ahead.

"This is an attack on passenger service and safety and an attack on our members' jobs at the worst possible time," said the RMT's leader Bob Crow.

"Like all the other private rail operators First Capital Connect have just imposed massive inflation-busting fares hikes despite raking in huge profits, and hot on its heels comes another blow to passengers and rail workers alike."

Unions are urging travellers to formally object to the proposals by writing to London TravelWatch by Tuesday 3 February.

In a statement, First Capital Connect said: "Any changes would be the first change to ticket office hours for some 10 years on our route and follows a comprehensive review of all our ticket sales.

"Any change would see the ticket office remain open at peak hours of ticket buying."

See also:

Transport unions have petitioned rush hour rail passengers at Kings Cross over plans to axe ticket office hours

LondonDaily News: 28 Jan 2009

The Rail, Maritime and Transport Union warned that some stations would be unmanned and opening hours slashed by 800 hours if First Capital Connect gets its way.

It would also shut 28 ticket offices on evenings and weekends along the old Thameslink north-south route.

Over 40 stations in London and the home counties would be affected including Finsbury Park, Elephant & Castle, Harringay, Hornsey, Luton Airport Parkway, New Southgate, Stevenage and Tooting.

Travelers were asked to formally object to the proposals by writing to London TravelWatch by 3 February.

'Attack on safety'

Yesterday several unions wrote to Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon asking him to step in and prevent any cuts to the network.

"This is an attack on passenger service and safety and an attack on our members' jobs at the worst possible time," said the RMT's leader Bob Crow. He added:

"Like all the other private rail operators First Capital Connect have just imposed massive inflation-busting fares hikes despite raking in huge profits, and hot on its heels comes another blow to passengers and rail workers alike."

Owners First Group made profits of £48.3 million in the six months to 30 September last year.

Staff 'threatened with sack for protesting'

Last week the TSSA union accused First Group of "bullying and intimidatory tactics" after staff were threatened with the sack for protesting ticket hall closers.

Staff were told could be sacked if they did not take ticket office posters down and stopped telling commuters about the closure plans. A letter said staff are under contractual duty to:

"...promote FCC's commercial interests and not put themselves in a position where this duty and their personal interests may conflict".

TSSA General Secretary Gerry Doherty said:

"FCC is worried staff will win the backing of many more passengers if they have a proper three-month consultation."

An FCC spokesman said:

"The TSSA leadership agreed with FCC that sending such communication while staff are on duty and in uniform is inappropriate and have asked their members to cease such activity. The process is for customers to make their views known through (the watchdogs) Passenger Focus and London TravelWatch."

Today they said:

"Any changes would be the first change to ticket office hours for some 10 years on our route and follows a comprehensive review of all our ticket sales.

"Any change would see the ticket office remain open at peak hours of ticket buying."

Two weeks ago Transport Minister Lord Adonis blocked South West Trains plans to reduce ticket office hours at 114 stations last week - it had allowed a three-month consultation.