Local Tube Stations Face Some of Largest Staff Cuts

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Up to a third of tube station staff could be axed in Merton

Local tube stations, including Wimbledon Park and Morden, could lose up to 35% of their frontline staff, according to TfL staffing plans revealed by Labour Assembly Members.

The figures, analysed by Londonwide Assembly member Fiona Twycross, show that Wimbledon Park faces losing 35% of its staff (2.5 full-time equivalent).

Morden would lose 29% of its staff (5 full-time equivalent staff).

The figures obtained by Ms Twycross suggest that where 588 frontline staff are set to be cut from across 216 London Underground stations, some stations would lose up to 58% of staff.

The figures show that Barons Court station faces the biggest staff cut, losing 58%, or the equivalent of 6.5 full time staff members, followed by Parsons Green losing 55%, or 5.7 full time equivalent staff and Hammersmith's Hammersmith and City Line Station, losing 50% or 6 ful time equivalent staff.

These cuts are part of an overall plan which could see 588 frontline staff losing threir jobs at 216 underground stations across London from next January.

Other local stations facing major cuts are:

• Putney Bridge – 36% (or 3.1 full-time equivalent staff)
• Fulham Broadway – 32% (or 5.8-full time equivalent staff).

The staff cuts will come as part of the planned closure of all the capital’s tube station ticket offices, despite the Mayor previously pledging to protect all ticket offices from cuts. The staff cuts vary across the tube station network with some stations losing over half their staff.

Fiona Twycross AM said: "It beggars belief that, with tube fares due to rise by 2.5% in January, Boris Johnson has the nerve to cut front line staffing levels at stations by an average of 16% across London. In Merton we will lose 35% of staff from Wimbledon Park for example, leaving passengers being forced to pay more money for less staff support.

"Politicians are often in the business of demanding more for less. It seems in this case Boris Johnson is happy with tube passengers getting less for more.

"The issue isn’t necessarily whether staff are based in ticket offices or on the station concourse, but whether staffing levels can provide all customers – especially the disabled and elderly – with a good service. I am calling on TfL to address this issue and to await the outcome of TravelWatch’s consultation survey before finalising plans. It is deplorable that TfL is not carrying out its own station by station consultation, so it is even more important that they take TravelWatch’s findings into account."

But Local Assembly Member Richard Tracey said: "This is part of the modernisation of the Tube. TfL say that staff on all stations will be more visible throughout all opening hours and more available to help travellers than previously when many were behind the glass ticket office windows. Most people use Oyster cards and now contactless payment rather than tickets. TfL are taking a serious commercial view of their operations."

London TravelWatch’s consultation on London Underground ticket office closures can be accessed here.

Proposed staffing changes to all stations across the Underground network can be viewed online here, and a ranked version of the full data, sorted by level of cuts, can be found here.  

September 23, 2014