Passengers rely on good connectivity through our train network, whether it be for work or leisure (writes Lothians Labour MSP FOYSOL CHOUDHURY).
What’s more, many passengers rely on ticket offices in stations to guide them through a journey and help them with buying tickets for a stress-free experience. This is especially true of older people or those without digital connectivity, who might not have the ability to book tickets on their phone.
They are also a massive resource for tourists, such as the thousands who visit Scotland, to help them enjoy trips in what might be an unfamiliar environment.
That’s why the plans to remove, or reduce the opening hours of, ticket offices for many train operators would be so catastrophic. Not only will this affect passengers on train services leaving Scotland – for example, the Avanti West Coast services leaving Glasgow – but it will also affect the huge numbers of passengers who wish to buy tickets in England to travel up to Scotland.
Just the other week, I was travelling back home to Scotland from England and had difficulties buying tickets on my phone in the station due to connection issues, so much so that I missed the train I wanted to get on.
If this was difficult for me, I can only imagine how difficult it would be for somebody who was less able to use a smartphone or navigate the complex booking and payment process online.
Without ticket offices, passenger service could be drastically worsened due to poor accessibility, restricted access to best value tickets and a devastating lack of support for ease of journeys. This will also lead to a de-staffing of stations, which could worsen passenger safety, security and experience.
This is why we must save our ticket offices. You can have your say by responding to the Transport Focus consultation by 1st September 2023.
As the public consultation on proposed changes to ticket offices entered its final week, Transport Focus and London TravelWatch had received more than 100,000 responses.
The consultation on train operator proposals to close the majority of ticket offices in England ends today (Wednesday 26 July.
Launched at the start of the month, the consultation provides people with the opportunity to have their say on how operators sell tickets at stations.
Transport Focus wants to hear from as many people as possible on what the proposals would mean for them and how they might be impacted.
Transport Focus chief executive Anthony Smith, said: “We’ve had a huge response to the consultation so far, with 100,000 responses received already and one week still to go for people to make their voices heard.
“There’s still time to respond to the consultation if you haven’t done so yet. We want to hear from everyone, so we can consider the needs of all station users and local communities.”
Transport Focus will scrutinise the train company proposals and any mitigations in detail, alongside the public responses, to inform its response.
Transport Focus will be considering issues such as whether the station will continue to be staffed, accessibility, the alternative options for buying tickets and whether passengers will continue to be able to access station facilities like lifts, waiting rooms and toilets.
It is a regulatory requirement as part of the process that Transport Focus and passengers are consulted. Transport Focus will review the impact of the proposed changes and passenger comments received before responding to train operator proposals.
For more information and to take part in the consultation visit:
LOTHIAN MSP Foysol Choudhury is supporting the campaign to keep ticket offices open. He said: “Passengers rely on good connectivity through our train network, whether it be for work or leisure.
“What’s more, many passengers rely on ticket offices in stations to guide them through a journey and help them with buying tickets for a stress-free experience.
“This is especially true of older people or those without digital connectivity, who might not have the ability to book tickets on their phone.
“They are also a massive resource for tourists, such as the thousands who visit Scotland, to help them enjoy trips in what might be an unfamiliar environment.
“That’s why the plans to remove, or reduce the opening hours of, ticket offices for many train operators would be so catastrophic.
“Not only will this affect passengers on train services leaving Scotland, for example, the Avanti West Coast services leaving Glasgow, but it will also affect the huge numbers of passengers who wish to buy tickets in England to travel up to Scotland.
“Just the other week, I was travelling back home to Scotland from England and had difficulties buying tickets on my phone in the station due to connection issues, so much so that I missed the train I wanted to get on.
“If this was difficult for me, I can only imagine how difficult it would be for somebody who was less able to use a smartphone or navigate the complex booking and payment process online.
“Without ticket offices, passenger service could be drastically worsened due to poor accessibility, restricted access to best value tickets and a devastating lack of support for ease of journeys.
“This will also lead to a de-staffing of stations, which could worsen passenger safety, security and experience.
“The consultation runs until TODAY – 26th July 2023.
