Train ticket office staff to be balloted over strike

South Eastern Trains, which operates services in parts of East Sussex, is planning to cut some ticket office opening hours or close them altogether.

The office at Hastings, which is usually open until 11.30pm, would close at 8pm on weekdays, 7pm on Saturdays and 6pm on Sundays.

There would also be new hours for stations in Battle, St Leonards Warrior Square and Robertsbridge, with many ticket offices closing in the early afternoon.

The plans have prompted the Transport Salaried Staffs Association to announce a ballot of its 400 members on whether to launch a campaign of action.

The union said it was confident of a yes vote in protest at plans to cut up to 100 jobs and added it had the backing of the public.

Gerry Doherty, the union's general secretary, said: "The last thing our members want to do is to go out on strike but they are sick of being treated with contempt.

"The company seems intent on railroading through these cost-cutting measures regardless of the genuine concerns raised by staff and passengers alike."

Brian Cooke, of the Rail Passengers Council, said changes would lead to substantial inconvenience and increased vandalism and antisocial behaviour.

Union members will be balloted between tomorrow and November 9. However, a South Eastern Trains spokesman said there would be no job losses.

He said staff affected by the proposed changes will be redeployed to other positions.

He said new ticket vending machines would still allow passengers to buy a full range of tickets but would enable the redeployment of 99 ticket office workers to "customer-facing positions".

He said another 29 people were being taken on, meaning a total of 128 staff would be providing assistance to passengers on trains and platforms.

The company spokesman said: "We're actually increasing jobs and just using them in a different way."

South Eastern Trains runs services on the former Connex South Eastern franchise from London to Kent and parts of East Sussex.