Unions fighting the closure of more than 1,000 train ticket offices are to take their protests and demonstrations direct to railway stations.

Rail union RMT is stepping up its campaign to save offices, the majority of which are at risk of shutting under plans to move staff to platform-based roles.

From Thursday, dozens of events will begin taking place at stations across the UK as members attempt to rally support from the public.

In Kent, demonstrations will take place outside Ashford train station on Thursday, July 13 followed by events in Ramsgate and Bromley South on Tuesday, July 18.

The proposals, unveiled last week by the Rail Delivery Group, suggest shutting all but the busiest ticket offices within the next three years.

The RDG says the move will ‘modernise customer service’ at a time when only a small percentage of passengers still buy their train ticket direct from a station office.

However disability groups say vulnerable people will be restricted in using the railways as a result of any change while workers against the plans say ticket offices offer advice, payment help and a place of safety, which can’t be replicated by technology.

The RMT is encouraging everyone to take part in the consultation so that, it says, rail operating companies and the government can appreciate how much ‘rail passengers value their ticket offices and staff’.

While passengers and commuters at local stations will be spoken to and leafleted by those fighting the closures, a mass rally is also planned for Kings Cross station at 6pm on Thursday evening.

National rail strikes taking place on July 20, 22 and 29, which relate to an ongoing dispiute over pay and working conditions will also now incorporate the issue of ticket office closures.

RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch is promising to take the campaign to ‘every town, city and village in this country’.

He said: "The recent announcements of ticket office closures is a fig-leaf for the wholescale de-staffing of stations, including safety critical train dispatch, safety critical train despatch staff, passenger assistance and other non-ticket office customer service workers.

"Ticket office closures under Schedule 17 means there will be no regulations on staffing levels at stations whatsoever.

"Train operators will then be free to staff or de-staff any station to whatever level they choose.

"Our union and the travelling public do not want a de-humanised railway that will be a rife with crime and anti-social behaviour, inaccessible to the most vulnerable.

"We will fight these plans all the way and need the public's support in joining our campaign and taking part in the consultation."