Four Islington rail stations to lose ticket offices?

Stations can be threatening places when they're unmanned, and the

proposed closure of four overland rail stations' ticket offices is

sparking concern among Islington residents.

Upper Holloway, Caledonian Road and Barnsbury, Drayton Park and Essex

Road, are among 265 UK stations that could be left without a ticket office and

only staffed for part of the day as part of a government proposal known as the 'McNulty report'.

Cllr Catherine West, leader of Islington Council opposes the plans:

"This is a real backward step because places like railway stations could

become areas where crime develops and fewer people using the stations

means a loss. Suddenly all the investment is wasted. The council will be

fighting against this for residents."

Despite the implications for these four stations in the report, both TfL

and the Mayor's office have denied that any changes are imminent. A

spokeswoman for the Mayor of London said: "There are no plans to close

the ticket offices at Upper Holloway and Caledonian Road and Barnsbury –

which Transport for London are responsible for – and we remain

committed to staffing them while services are operating.

See more at Islington Gazette