SWATHES of train stations in Sussex could be affected as plans to shut down ticket offices are being fought by unions.

The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) are to launch opposition against what they are calling ticket office carnage.

Although no Sussex stations are included in the first wave of closures, Brighton, Shoreham and Lancing have all been earmarked to be affected in the second wave.

Also set for cuts are Burgess Hill, Hassocks, Eastbourne, Bexhill, Lewes, Polegate, East Grinstead, Chichester, Angmering, Worthing, Crawley, Littlehampton, Horsham, Portslade, Bognor and Hove.

Customers at these stations could see the opening hours of the ticket offices slashed, with the threat of eventual closure and the loss of jobs.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “These plans, driven by the desire to de-staff our railways in the quest for profit, would unleash a wave of ticket office carnage across rail franchises that are already seen as the basket-cases of Britain’s privatised railway network.

“It is clear that Govia couldn’t give two hoots about passenger services, jobs and safety and are prepared to milk these routes for every single penny that they can extract regardless of what the travelling public think of them.

“It is a disgrace and Govia should be slung out and these essential rail services taken into public ownership before these latest profit-driven cuts are allowed to rip through these 81 stations from North to South.

“It is no coincidence that this threat comes as Southern are already gearing up to axe guards from their services in yet another lethal gamble with safety-critical jobs on some of Britain’s most dangerously overcrowded trains and platforms.

“RMT is launching a campaign of opposition to these plans and we will be working with the travelling public to stop them in their tracks.”

There is a formal public consultation across routes served by Thameslink, Southern, Great Northern and Gatwick Express.

Although the plans, driven by the part-French state owned Govia outfit, are legally required to be submitted for formal consultation, the RMT claim companies are hell bent on bulldozing through the proposals from June this year.