THE planned closure of 51 London Overground ticket offices would be “an act of vandalism on London’s transport infrastructure,” rail union leader Manuel Cortes has said.

Arriva Rail London is launching a 28-day consultation today on its plan to axe the ticket offices, despite strong opposition from transport unions.

TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes attacked the closures as representing “a return to the bad old days of underfunded, understaffed and under secure service” and pledged to raise the issue with London’s Deputy Mayor for Transport Heidi Alexander at the Labour Party conference next week.

He said his members had warned that Arriva is “not currently able to provide the service that passengers want, so today's announcement is not being made in the interests of passengers or staff or frankly the good running of the Overground.”

He vowed that his union would continue to campaign for the restoration of London’s transport grant, adding: “If George Osborne hadn’t axed it in 2015, we would not see management feeling pressed into making such stupid decisions today.”