'This is a remarkable response and shows the power of the public': Petition calling for railway station ticket offices to remain open passes 100,000 names

A petition calling for railway ticket offices to remain open has passed 100,000 signatories, meaning the controversial closure plans can be considered for debate in Parliament. More than 101,000 people had signed the online petition by Friday, more than a month before it's due to close.

The development follows news that a consultation on the planned ticket office closures, extended after a backlash, received a record-breaking 680,000 responses when it closed on September 1.

Under the plans, a ticket office will remain open at Manchester Victoria railway station, but Manchester Piccadilly's has been earmarked to shut, despite it being the busier of the two Manchester stations. Rail operator Northern has also confirmed plans to close manned ticket offices at 45 stations across Greater Manchester, although they will be retained at six other stations.

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The mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, together with other north west mayors, initiated legal action against a number of train operating companies, alleging a legal process hasn't been followed and the closures would result in unfair accessibility issues.

Unions, passenger groups and those representing elderly and disabled people have reacted angrily to the decision by train operators, backed by the Government, to close almost 1,000 ticket offices as part of plans to reform the industry.

Train companies argue that moving staff from offices on to station concourses to sell tickets will provide a better service for passengers, but unions fear up to 2,000 jobs will be lost.

Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association interim general secretary Peter Pendle said about the