“Passengers value the presence of booking office staff in the station, both as a source of advice and information and also from the point of view of security. In my view this proposal to cut their hours is extremely short-sighted and will reduce the quality of customer service for passengers; SE Trains need to think again,” said the MP.

The motion which has also been signed by Kent MPs Gwyn Prosser and Derek Wyatt says;

“This House notes South Eastern Trains' proposals to close and reduce the opening times of ticket offices at their stations; believes that any closures or reductions in ticket office opening times will lead to a lower level of service to the travelling public in general and to disabled people in particular, act as a disincentive for the public to make use of the network, threaten revenue protection and potentially make stations an unsafe environment for rail users; further believes that automatic ticket machines are an inadequate substitute for well-trained railway staff and is opposed to any loss in jobs which could result from the proposals; and therefore calls on South Eastern Trains to withdraw their plans.”