Plans for a mass closure of railway station ticket offices in England have been announced. But should ticket offices be allowed to close?
Industry body the Rail Delivery Group unveiled proposals today which could lead to nearly all offices being shut, with facilities only remaining open at the busiest stations. It said moving ticket office staff on to station platforms and concourses would “modernise customer service”.
The plan sparked fury from trade unions and disability groups, with concerns also raised by public transport organisations. There are fears the move could lead to job losses and put some vulnerable passengers off train travel. Vivienne Francis, chief social change officer at the Royal National Institute of Blind People , said: “A mass closure of rail ticket offices would have a hugely detrimental impact on blind and partially sighted people’s ability to buy tickets, arrange assistance and, critically, travel independently. RNIB research shows that only 3% of people with sight loss said they could use a ticket vending machine without problems and 58% said it was impossible.
RDG chief executive Jacqueline Starr said: “The ways our customers buy tickets has changed and it’s time for the railway to change with them. With just 12% of tickets being sold from ticket offices last year, and 99% of those transactions being available on TVMs or online, our proposals would mean more staff on hand to give face-to-face help with a much wider range of support, from journey planning, to finding the right ticket and helping those with accessibility needs.
Belgique Dernières Nouvelles, Belgique Actualités
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