Tube plans 'could see staff cuts' London Assembly's Labour group claims

TfL said its proposed changes would see more staff available to help passengers

Some Tube stations in London could lose more than half their frontline staff, figures obtained by London Assembly's Labour group have revealed.

Under Transport for London (TfL) proposals, 588 frontline staff could be cut from London Underground stations.

Labour's London Assembly spokesperson Val Shawcross said people were being "forced to pay more money for less".

A TfL spokesman said: "There will be more staff visible and available to help our passengers".

TfL's plans, which they say are subject to change, show a total of 216 stations could have their staffing numbers cut from January 2015, with about 588 staff due to be shed in total across the network.

More than half the visible staff would be axed from Baron's Court, Edgware, Kilburn, East Ham and Hammersmith stations, if the current proposals get the go ahead.

'Benefit passengers'

Ms Shawcross said: "It beggars belief that, with tube fares due to rise by 2.5% in January, Boris Johnson has the nerve to cut front line staffing levels at stations by an average of 16% across London.

"What we will see at many stations are passengers being forced to pay more money for less staff support."

London Underground's chief operating officer, Phil Hufton, said: "It is nonsense to suggest our plans to modernise staffing at stations will not benefit passengers.

"Under our proposals there will be more staff visible and available to help our passengers and keep them safe and secure as they will be brought out from behind glass windows and back offices to work where people need them - within ticket halls, and on concourses and platforms."

The Mayor of London's office has not responded to Ms Shawcross's comments.