Today will see the announcement of plans to close practically every ticket office at a railway station in England. According to the PA news agency, suggestions to close offices at hundreds of stations will be presented by the industry group the Rail Delivery Group (RDG).
There is a ticket office at about three out of every five stations. The government has put pressure on train operators, who own and operate the great majority, to make savings in light of the decline in revenue brought on by the coronavirus outbreak.
Ticket Offices will Close
Trade unions are upset over the closure of train ticket offices because of salary, jobs, and working conditions. 12% of railway tickets, down from 85% in 1995, are reportedly purchased from offices at stations, according to the RDG.
In the opinion of train companies, station concourses would be a preferable location for their ticket office workers. Travelers will need to tap their contactless cards on barriers, use self-service kiosks, and, if available, purchase tickets aboard trains to pay for their trips.
- Railway station ticket offices to close, RDG proposes closures.
- Unions protest train ticket office closure, affecting wages, jobs, and working conditions.
- RMT union opposes ticket office closure; Railfuture promotes self-service.
The Transport Salaried Staffs Association implores the government to face stiff opposition to the needless mass closure of ticket offices, as the personnel at these locations are crucial for providing guidance and help to passengers.
The general secretary of the RMT union forewarned that the union would “vigorously oppose any moves to close ticket offices.” Director of Railfuture Neil Middleton advised the sector to promote greater self-service but not mandate it.
A general closure of rail ticket offices would significantly hinder the capacity of blind and partially sighted persons to purchase tickets, organize assistance, and travel freely, according to Vivienne Francis, chief social change officer of the Royal National Institute of Blind Persons (RNIB). modifications would be subject to employee and public consultations, and negotiations with the RMT over the modifications have stagnated.
