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Boris Johnson’s plan to close London Underground ticket offices will hit the transport budget for £134 million, it emerged today.

News of the spending inflamed a row over the controversial closure scheme which led to strikes last year and will see hundreds of staff positions axed.

Tube officials told the Standard it was justified because the closure programme will improve services and lead to greater savings in the long run.

But the Mayor’s critics at City Hall branded the cost “staggering” and claimed it will not make up for the loss of station staff.

Labour’s London Assembly Transport spokesperson Val Shawcross said the closures will particularly hit travellers needing greater assistance, like the elderly and disabled.

She said: “The truth is a staggering £134 million of building works and ticket machines won’t make up for the loss of 897 station staff.

“No matter how user friendly a ticket machine is they cannot provide the same level of advice and customer service that staff could.

“Coming only weeks after tube fares were hiked for the seventh year running many passengers will wonder why they are being asked to pay more money for less staff support on their journey.”

Transport for London accepted there was a one off £134 million cost, but have said the changes would end up saving a total of £270 million by 2021.

London Underground Director of Strategy and Service Development Gareth Powell said: “These are net savings and already take into account one off implementation costs and voluntary redundancies.

“In addition, higher commercial revenue from better shops and services at stations increase these savings even further.”

Work to transform 256 ticket offices across the capital is due to begin next month. The first stations affected will be at Chigwell, Embankment, Queensway Roding Valley, South Wimbledon, Shepherd’s Bush, Temple, Theydon Bois and Upminster Bridge.

The £134 million will in part be spent on refurbishing ticket halls, installing new ticket machines where staffed offices close and upgrading other terminals.

Some money will also go to retraining staff to help passengers in all areas of their station and providing them with tablets to give workers ready access to travel information.