Key information
Petition presented by: Jennette Arnold OBE
Date petition submitted: Wednesday 8 June 2011
Petition presented at: London Assembly Plenary
Summary of petition
"We, the undersigned, are opposed to any further reduction in the opening hours of ticket offices at Wanstead and Snaresbrook Central line stations, and across the Tube network. We call on Mayor Boris Johnson and Transport for London to cancel the planned cutbacks.”
Response information
Name of person responding: The Mayor
Response date: Tuesday 2 August 2011
“In recent years we have seen an increase in the number of transactions carried out at ticket machines and on-line whilst numbers of transactions at ticket offices have declined. LU therefore revised the opening times of ticket offices in February 2011. Every station that previously had a ticket office has retained one, open at times that reflect the demand (with the exception of Cannon Street which is being redeveloped).
“The changes are driven by the following
• The significant decline in the numbers of customers using ticket offices, particularly following the success of the Oyster card;
• The Tube investment programme and the need to adapt our staffing to reflect the introduction of new technology; and
• The need to identify ways to deliver even greater value to tax and fare payers, without compromising the aspects of our service that are essential.
“At the core of LU’s proposals is a commitment to maintaining fully and safely staffed stations at all times of the day and night when services are running. Recent years have seen a major improvement in safety and security on trains and at stations. In addition to the greater presence of LU staff at gate lines and on platforms, the number of police patrolling the Tube network has risen from 450 to more than 700 today. Last year crime fell eight per cent, with just 13 crimes for every million customer journeys. There are now over 12,000 CCTV cameras on the Tube network, with that figure due to rise to more than 14,000 in years to come, as well as more than 1,500 help points.
“LU has a commitment to keeping ticket offices open at every one of our stations that currently has a ticket office service, but with revised opening times to reflect the decline in demand for tickets offices. Today, only 1 in 20 journeys on the Tube starts with a visit to the ticket office and some 80% of journeys are made using an Oyster card.
“In addition, there is a growing use of internet sales and automatic top-ups. On stations, there is a now much greater provision of self-service ticket machines and a network of 4,000 ticket stops at shops and retail outlets across the Capital.
“Therefore, we have an opportunity to deploy staff to areas of stations where they can provide greater assistance – on platforms, ticket halls and gate lines; rather than behind a glass screen in a very lightly used office.
“The number of staff on duty at any particular time of day will depend on numbers of people using the stations, and the characteristics/complexity of the station itself. Many stations are also governed by regulations that specify minimum numbers of staff required for the station to remain open. These will continue to apply.”