By Aysu Bicer
LONDON (AA) - Members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) held a rally Thursday opposite 10 Downing Street to protest against a proposal by a group representing train companies to close down up to 1,000 railway station ticket offices.
RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch has characterized the battle against the Rail Delivery Group's proposal, which is currently under consultation, as a "struggle for the vitality of our local communities."
He addressed a crowd of hundreds during a demonstration organized by the RMT union outside Downing Street on Thursday evening.
"We are sending a clear message to the government and profiteering rail operators that our ticket offices must not be closed," he said.
"The campaign to save our ticket offices has amassed widespread public support and forced an extension of the consultation," he added.
Lynch further said that the closure of the ticket offices will result in an extensive reduction of station staff, rendering railways inaccessible to thousands of disabled, vulnerable and elderly passengers.
"People up and down this country are sick and tired of their communities being hollowed out. Our post offices are being closed, our pubs are being closed. Our banks have withdrawn from High Street. Everywhere we go, all the community assets are being hollowed out in the name of profit, in the name of modernization," he said.
Rail unions and passenger advocacy organizations have expressed concern about the proposed closure of ticket offices at railway stations, emphasizing the potential impact on disabled and elderly passengers.