Campaigners: 'Train station ticket office closures will isolate elderly'

Andy Day, of the North Staffs Pensioners' Convention, has raised concerns over the scheme. Rail passenger Chrissy Augustus says she is deeply troubled by the proposed closure of railway ticket offices and has started a petition.

In his Personally Speaking column in The Sentinel, Andy Day, coordinator of the North Staffs Pensioners' Convention has had his say on plans to shut train ticket offices across the country - including Stafford and in the Potteries. As reported by StokeonTrentLive ticket offices at Stoke, Kidsgrove and Stafford railway stations are to permanently close under Government plans revealed earlier this month.

On July 5, under the direction of Transport Secretary Mark Harper, the Rail Delivery Group which represents train operators, announced a short, three week consultation’ over the closure of nearly 1,000 ticket offices at stations across the UK. (*This consultation period has now been extended - please see below).

Andy Day writes, "The economy of the North and Midlands desperately needs a railway system fit for purpose, not another kick in the teeth.

But the closure of ticket offices will cut passenger numbers and further damage an already failing network. It is as if they are doing it on purpose to spite us all.

What about the impact on passengers? If it goes ahead the closure of ticket offices will disproportionately affect older, disabled and vulnerable people.

Passengers would be forced to use train operators’ apps or websites to buy tickets, use the self-service machines at stations or ‘tap in’ with contactless cards."

Caroline Abrahams, director of Age UK said: “Millions of older people are not online and therefore rely on traditional methods, including face to face, for everyday transactions such as buying train tickets. It’s unfair if they are excluded from accessing the cheapest prices, just because they don’t own a smartphone or other digital device.”

The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) is equally concerned.

Vivienne Francis, Chief Social Change Officer at the RNIB 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 three per cent of people with sight loss said they could use a ticket vending machine without problems and 58 per cent said it was impossible.”

The Government says that things must change because only 12 per cent of tickets are bought at ticket offices. But, according to the Office of Rail and Road (the industry regulator), 12 per cent equates to roughly 170 million tickets a year which is a huge number. Nor does this figure include those who visit ticket offices to seek advice or reassurance about their journey without buying a ticket. 

In the parliamentary debate on July 6, some Tory MPs spoke out. Jason McCartney, MP for Colne Valley, said: “I have huge concerns about these plans. As the minister knows, my hard-pressed constituents trying to get to work, college or university... still face huge disruption on the TransPennine route.

“When the computer says no, does he not agree that the best way for them to get advice on ticketing, refunds, alternative routes and when the next train is coming is by speaking to fully trained staff in ticket offices?”

In the same debate Robert Buckland, the former Justice Secretary, said: “Residents in Swindon had a taste of things to come yesterday, potentially, when the ticket office was closed and people were queueing out of the door to deal with the wholly inadequate machines that are at the station. Wifi was unreliable as well. Isn’t the truth this: that if we are to proceed with this significant change then the technology that is available to customers has to be significantly better?”

BBC news also reports, Two disabled activists have initiated a legal challenge over plans by train operators to shut nearly all railway station ticket offices. Plans to close hundreds of ticket offices were revealed earlier this month as part of cost-cutting measures.

Sarah Leadbetter and Doug Paulley claim the consultation process "discriminated against disabled people".

The Rail Minister, Huw Merriman, is set to meet with accessibility groups.

People passing through Stafford station on Thursday morning were being given leaflets by members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) to inform them of plans to close ticket offices at stations.

Chrissy Augustus says she is deeply troubled by the proposed closure of railway ticket offices. "I have started a petition to stop the closure because of what it would mean, especially for disabled passengers, but for all of us who have or might ever need help in a train station - ticket offices are a lifeline".

You can find out more about her petition here, Petition · Save Our Railway Ticket Offices! · Change.org

*UPDATE*

The petition above has now closed, however the public consultation still is ongoing. It was due to end on Wednesday July 26 (as mentioned above), but has now been extended to September 1.

For more information on the consultation visit https://www.transportfocus.org.uk/train-station-ticket-office-consultation/.