Nearly all rail ticket offices across the country could be closed after rail firm bosses announced plans for a public consultation on the closures over the next three years.

The nationwide move by rail firms announced today (5 July) has sparked large scale criticism and could lead to further strikes.

The move to begin a consultation on the future offices has been made by the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents train companies, after talks with the RMT union failed to reach an agreement.

The industry body has said only 12 per cent of tickets are currently sold at station kiosks on average, compared with 85 per cent in 1995, with passengers now buying more tickets online or at machines.

It argues that changes will enable staff to come out from behind the glass of station offices and be free to help more passengers.

Few details have been given of how many jobs would be lost.

Currently around three out of five stations have a ticket office, but only the busiest stations could be left with human-operated ticket facilities.

Chiltern Railways, which serves both Warwick Station and Warwick Parkway Station has now launched a public consultation on the plans.

A statement on the company website said: "Under the proposals, ticket office colleagues would transition to multi-skilled 'customer help' roles - already in place in many parts of the network, such as Bicester Village and Oxford Parkway Stations.

"This means staff will be brought closer to customers by moving out from the ticket office into the public areas of stations where they would be able to better provide fares advice and support customers with accessibility needs.

"Our proposal is for you to purchase your travel online or via mobile apps before arriving at the station.

"However, if you are unable to do so, staff will be available at stations to assist with your ticket purchase from self-service ticket vending machines."

Mick Lynch, general secretary of the UK's largest rail union, the RMT, has previously said his union would not "meekly sit by and allow thousands of jobs to be sacrificed or see disabled and vulnerable passengers left unable to use the railways as a result".

Details on how to respond to Chiltern's consultation can be found here.