The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) has announced a series of protests aimed at highlighting claims of staff shortages at ticket offices across the West Coast mainline, specifically at stations operated by Avanti.

Reports indicate that despite previous opposition from unions and passengers leading to the abandonment of plans to close ticket offices nationwide, the RMT alleges that Avanti has failed to replenish staffing levels in recent months.

The union has identified several key stations suffering from understaffing, including Birmingham New Street, Manchester Piccadilly, and London Euston.

In response to these concerns, RMT activists are scheduled to distribute leaflets at various locations in Birmingham, London, and Manchester to raise awareness of the ongoing staffing issues.

Eddie Dempsey, the general secretary of the RMT, emphasized the importance of ticket offices for both the public and railway staff.

He stated, "The public made it clear that they value and rely on station ticket offices.

Now that these offices have been saved, they must be properly staffed.

Passengers expect reliability and face-to-face service, and our members deserve the resources and support to deliver that.

We are urging Avanti to act responsibly and restore staffing levels as a matter of priority."

The issue of staffing in railway ticket offices has garnered attention as rail services continue to be a vital mode of transportation in the UK, connecting major cities and serving millions of passengers annually.

The RMT's protests are part of a broader dialogue regarding employment levels in the rail sector amidst changing consumer behavior and operational challenges.