An RMT news release sent out to today from the RMT's media department increases pressure on LU's plans to close ticket offices. A survey carried out on behalf of the union by 'Survation' clearly shows the the publics opposition to ticket office closures and fare rises. This survey underlines the importance of our union's campaign to keep ticket offices open and shows that the public supports us on this issue.

Click on the attachment to see the full report.

The RMT's press release is below:

NEWS RELEASE

October 16th 2013

Immediate

New opinion survey shows full extent of London transport users’ opposition to ticket office closures and fare increases

On the day that the GLA Transport Committee discusses the impact of ticket office closures, tube union RMT has produced detailed new survey evidence that shows the full extent of London transport users’ opposition to ticket office closures and fare increases and the political implications for the Mayor of ploughing on with his policies.

The Survation research, based on a sample of more than a thousand London transport users, reveals that:

· 71% of tube users would be quite concerned or very concerned if ticket offices were closed down

· 52% of tube users had experienced being unable to buy tickets from a machine because it was broken

· Tourists , essential to the London economy , are even more worried about ticket office closures with 81% either quite concerned or very concerned.

· Amongst those who voted for Mayor Boris Johnson in 2012 56% said that they would be less likely to support a candidate for Mayor who acted to close ticket offices after pledging to keep them open.

· 78% of regular commuters said that they thought current fares are too high.

RMT will be using the latest opinion survey information to support the case against ticket office closures when the union gives evidence to the GLA transport committee today – 16th October.

As part of the on-going public campaign against ticket office closures RMT has also called a protest to be held at Whitechapel station this Saturday, 19th October 2013 at 09.30 hours. Whitechapel is threatened with the total loss of its ticket office as part of the station refurbishment programme in a move that the union says could be replicated across the capital in an underhand drive to bundle through ticket office closures by stealth. The fight to save Whitechapel is pivotal to the whole union ticket office campaign.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

“This detailed survey confirms that not only are London transport users’ overwhelmingly opposed to ticket office closures but that they will also take action against elected officials like Mayor Boris Johnson who at election time promise to keep ticket offices open but then sharpen up the axe once they are in power.

“It is shocking that the majority of tube users have already been unable to buy a ticket because machines were vandalised or broken. If ticket offices are closed down then thousands of passengers would be denied the right to travel as they would have no way of obtaining a ticket when the machines are out of action. That is the reality of this closure policy and it would be the elderly and those with disabilities who would suffer the most as a result.

“The Mayor would also do well to look at the overwhelming opinions of visitors to this City who are strenuously opposed to ticket office closures. You can’t talk on the one hand about encouraging tourism and then ignore the views of those same people you are seeking to encourage as visitors.

“It is no surprise at all to see that nearly eight out of ten commuters are worried about the cost of travel when they see their fares going up while staffing and accessibility are heading in the opposite direction.”

ENDS

Geoff Martin

07831 465 103

0207 255 9146

Note to editors:

· The survey was conducted via face-to-face interviews with a 1000 passengers at 23 of the busiest London

Underground stations by passenger numbers; Baker Street, Bank & Monument, Bond Street, Canary Wharf, Charing Cross, Euston, Green Park, Hammersmith, Holborn, King's Cross St Pancras, Leicester Square, Liverpool Street, London Bridge, Oxford Circus, Paddington, Piccadilly Circus, Shepherd's Bush, South Kensington, Stratford, Tottenham Court Road, Victoria and Waterloo.

· interviews were spread across the period between 10am and 9pm, Monday to Saturday, thus capturing a broad cross-section of London Underground use during an average week, including commuters, tourists and evening restaurant and theatre goers. The stations surveyed have a combined 979 million passenger exits & entrances and are therefore estimated to represent either the start or end point of approximately 70-80% of the 1,229 million annual passenger journeys on the London Underground.

· Interviews were conducted using a random in-street face-to-face methodology. Interviewers positioned themselves at the exits/entrances of Underground stations and they approached the 'next' available person after the completion of each interview.

· No quotas were imposed, and the survey sample can be presumed to be a reliable approximation of the profile of all passengers who were passing through each of the stations during the fieldwork times.

Population Sampled

All adults aged 18+ in England , Scotland and Wales .

Sample Size

1,027