Watford Junction is set to be the only local "hub" left standing after “savage” mass ticket office closure plans were announced.

Industry body the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) unveiled proposals which could lead to nearly all offices being shut, with facilities only remaining open at the busiest stations.

One of these stations would be Watford Junction, which London Northwestern Railway (LNR) said would remain as a “hub station”, despite confirming “all ticket offices in their current form would close over the next three years” after today’s (July 5) announcement.

The Rail, Maritime, and Transport (RMT) claimed similar measures were in the pipeline, last year, and Watford mayor Peter Taylor responded to these concerns by launching a petition to save Watford Junction's "important" ticket office.

According to LNR, as a "hub station" Watford Junction would "enable the evolution of retail and the multi-skilling of staff, offering enhanced retail facilities and customer support whilst industry fares, ticketing, and retail reforms are delivered".

Mobile teams would also move between stations to offer extra help and ticket machines would be upgraded.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch described the closure policy as “a savage attack on railway workers, their families, and the travelling public” and the union claimed “hundreds of redundancy notices” are being issued to ticket office staff.

However, the RDG has attempted to paint the move as “modernisation”, moving staff “out of ticket offices and on station platforms”.

Watford Observer: Watford Junction signWatford Junction sign (Image: Network Rail)It is not known how quickly the first sites will close, but the programme is expected to last for three years.

The Watford RMT branch is preparing a comment but says it is difficult to estimate potential local job losses until full details of how staff would be utilised elsewhere are provided.

The proposals are set for a public consultation which will last 21 days for passengers and be facilitated by independent watchdogs Transport Focus and London TravelWatch. London TravelWatch covers Watford’s stations.

Transport Focus consultation: https://www.transportfocus.org.uk/train-station-ticket-office-consultation/

London TravelWatch consultation for LNR: https://www.londontravelwatch.org.uk/london-northwestern-railway-ticket-office-consultation/

Disability charities and trade unions are among those who have voiced their anger at the scheme, claiming it will lead to job losses and put some vulnerable passengers off train travel.