On 31 August, railway workers will be marching to 10 Downing Street in their fight to save railway ticket offices across the country from being closed and their staff losing their jobs.

A mass rally is being held in which RMT members, trades unionists, and supporters from across the political landscape will tell the government in no uncertain terms that staffed ticket offices are essential and must be saved.

A consultation on the future of ticket offices is currently being held, and so far it has received nearly 400,000 responses. The consultation is scheduled to close on 1 September and the RMT union is urging as many people as possible to take part.

Under the current proposals, up to 1,000 ticket offices will be closed with 2,300 station staff at risk of losing their jobs.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “The public response to the government wanting to shut every ticket office in Britain has been very encouraging.

“People from different walks of life recognise the value of ticket offices and the station staff that support passengers on their journeys.

“Rail companies and their masters in government, do not care one jot about disabled people, vulnerable passengers and those travelling alone who welcome a human presence on our railways.

“These plans lock in age and disability discrimination and if they are carried out, it will mean many vulnerable passengers will not feel safe using the network.

“I urge everyone to take part in the consultation but our campaign will continue after the closing date of September 1st.

“We will be lobbying MPs, several of whom from across the political spectrum have been supportive of our campaign. And RMT will increase the pressure on the government to abandon its increasingly unpopular policy.”