London Travelwatch starts a new consultation about the closure of 51 London Overground stations.

Consultation - Have your say on the proposed closure of ticket offices at 51 London Overground stations

Image caption - a lady at a London Overground ticket office

Arriva Rail London are planning to close ticket offices at 51 London Overground stations*. London TravelWatch is now consulting passengers on these changes and wants to hear from as many passengers as possible.

Serious concerns

Transport for All has serious concerns regarding this news. The closure of ticket offices on the Underground has had a negative impact on Disabled and older people. Those difficulties have been raised at various Pan London Mobility Forums. We are especially surprised about the decision because London Underground Director, Mark Wild admitted during our Biennial General Meeting that "when [they] closed the ticket offices [they] probably went to far".

Many Disabled and older people, including those with a learning difficulty; visually impaired people; Deaf and hard of hearing people; and those who are simply unfamiliar with computers find it difficult or impossible to use ticket machines - especially when making more complicated requests, such as registering a Disabled Person's Railcard to an Oyster.

It is also particularly difficult for hard of hearing passengers. Ticket offices use the loop system. Closing the ticket office takes away their only means of communication in a noisy environment.

Without the fixed point of a staffed ticket office, visually impaired people find it harder to locate staff to assist them; especially since there is no staff point, and staff still don't wear high-vis uniforms.

Take action - Send your response

Transport for All will respond to this consultation in order to share our concerns. If you would like to contribute to our answer, please email us your feedback by Tuesday the 9th of October: joshua@transportforall.org.uk

Passengers can comment on the proposals via an online survey (click here) which runs until 11 October 2018. You can also comment on the proposed changes by emailing consultations@londontravelwatch.org.uk or by post to 169 Union Street, London, SE1 0LL.

*The following stations are included in this proposal: Acton Central, Anerley, Brondesbury, Brondesbury Park, Bruce Gove, Bush Hill Park, Caledonian Road & Barnsbury, Camden Road, Canonbury, Carpenders Park, Clapton, Dalston Kingsland, Dalston Junction, Finchley Road & Frognal, Gospel Oak, Hackney Central, Hackney Downs, Hackney Wick, Haggerston, Hampstead Heath, Hatch End, Headstone Lane, Homerton, Honor Oak Park, Hoxton, Imperial Wharf, Kensal Rise, Kensington (Olympia), Kentish Town West, Kilburn High Road, Penge West, Rectory Road, Rotherhithe, Shadwell, Shepherds Bush, Shoreditch High Street, Silver Street, South Acton, South Hampsted, Southbury, St James Street, Stamford Hill, Stoke Newington, Surrey Quays, Theobalds Gove, Turkey Street, Wapping, Watford High Street, West Hampstead, White Hart Lane and Wood Street.