'A campaign we must win'

MAYORS LAUNCH LEGAL FIGHT TO STOP WIDESPREAD CLOSURE OF TICKET OFFICES - A MOVE THAT WILL 'ERODE WHAT REMAINS OF PUBLIC TRUST IN TRAVELLING BY TRAIN'

- PAUL BRITTON

ANDY Burnham and other regional mayors in the north are set to take legal action over the widespread closure of railway station ticket offices, it can be revealed.

They have joined forces to initiate a legal challenge against rail operators Express, Northern Trains Ltd, LNER, EMR, Thameslink, Greater Anglia and Avanti West Coast, arguing a 21-day period of public consultation is 'inappropriate for changes of this scale!

The mayors said the closure plans would impact the most vulnerable in society, including disabled and older people.

Pre-action letters have already protocol been sent, in which they collectively state a series of concerns, set out their legal case and call for the consultation to be suspended. They said that if no action was taken by the operators, they would pursue a further legal action.

Writing in the Manchester Evening News, mayor of Greater Manchester Mr Burnham said: "For the good of the country, it's a campaign we must win.

"If the Government and the rail industry get their way, it will erode what remains of public trust in travelling by train and hasten Britain towards a faceless, soulless society.

"The rail operators may be fronting up these plans but make no mistake the Government is standing behind them and handing over the axe."

He vowed legal action would be taken if the consultation to close the majority of rail ticket offices and cut staff available to support passengers was 'not suspended and reviewed.

The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) announced the plans affecting some 1,007 ticket offices on July 5, giving the public 21 days to have their say.