Campaigners have hailed the Government's U-turn over the scrapping of most railway ticket offices as "a victory for people power".

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said train operators have been asked to withdraw the proposals as they “do not meet the high thresholds set by ministers”.

Rail watchdogs Transport Focus and London TravelWatch had announced they opposed every single planned closure due to issues such as the impact on accessibility.

London Assembly Member and former Highgate councillor Siân Berry, said: "This is a victory for people power.

"Passengers in their hundreds of thousands objected to these dreadful plans to close ticket offices, and it is great to see our statutory watchdogs standing up against these proposals with us."

London TravelWatch and Transport Focus had released their formal objections to the plan (October 31) in response to a Government-backed proposal from train operating companies to close 296 ticket offices in and around London.

They groups had been required to review each proposal to close a ticket office based on criteria relating to customer service, accessibility and cost-effectiveness.

Anthony Smith, chief executive of Transport Focus, said “significant amendments” to the plans were secured, such as reverting to existing staffing times at many stations.

Ms Berry added: “It is outrageous that train operating companies and Government ever thought large scale closures of London’s ticket offices were even worth considering.

“Londoners, from disabled people to those whose mobile phones have died, need a staffed ticket office to assist them in their journeys.

“With 99 per cent of responses in opposition to the proposal, any efforts to close and reduce hours of ticket offices must now be withdrawn.”

Campaigner Jessica Learmond-Crique, who has launched a petition to safeguard the needs of elderly and less abled people said it was "brilliant news".

"It means the government has listened to people," she added.

"If the elderly and less abled have concerns, with no ticket offices there would be nobody to talk to or help them. "

In September, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak suggested closing ticket offices was “the right thing for the British public and British taxpayers” as “only one in 10 tickets are sold currently in ticket offices”.