The Underground needs automatic trains to replace the drivers on 35k a year for a 35 hour week.

Automated tickets are a boon in stations and I'm sure that in some stations in non-peak times having staff there doing nothing isn't worthwhile.

But the Underground Unions have sensibly grabbed the safety bandwagon and linked all cuts in staff to endangering the lives of all - rather than mindlessly protecting their members as is their reson d'etre.