The last Labour government commissioned a report into reducing costs on Britains railways by Sir Roy Mcnulty an aviation expert! Its titled “Realising the Potential of GB Rail” and has just been delivered to the current coalition government.

One of its many recommendations is to close the following Southwark railway ticket offices: East Dulwich, North Dulwich, West Dulwich, Elephant&Castle, Nunhead, Queens Road Peckham, Sydenham, South Bermondsey and Gipsy Hill on the border with Lambeth.

Also proposed that Peckham Rye and Denmark Hill station ticket offices only be open 7-10am Mon-Fri.

In fact it’s easier to list the ones that would not be affected – London Bridge and Blackfriars.

Its based on a Department of Transport classificiation of railway stations pretty much un related to passenger numbers.

Clearly with so many residents dependant on railway services in Southwark and no tube alternative even these proposals would make travelling by train more difficult for honest passengers and potentially with fewer staff about more dangerous. 

What we need is to fix Southwark stations not close them.