CLAIMS by the RMT rail union that the new Great Western rail franchise “will lead to a massacre of ticket offices” have been rejected by the Government.

The union said that the franchise tendering process was being conducted in line with the McNulty report into cutting the costs of the rail industry, even though the Government has yet to give its response to the recommendations.

Sir Roy McNulty and his inquiry team said greater use should be made of ticket machines and booking offices at more lightly-used stations should close or have their opening hours cut. Among ticket offices in categories recommended to close in the report are Bicester North, Haddenham & Thame Parkway, Charlbury, Goring and Kingham.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said: “It is an insult to democracy that the Greater Western franchise is being tendered on the basis of a half-baked and totally bogus set of ideas advanced by McNulty before they have even been endorsed by the country’s law-makers. This a pre-emptive strike, that will lead to a massacre of the ticket offices.”

A Department for Transport spokesman said: “We are considering the findings of the report and any of his proposed changes to rail fares or ticketing will be examined as part of a Government review. No decision has been taken.”