The government has abandoned controversial plans to close rail ticket offices after public transport regulators rejected all proposals to close rail ticket offices after warning that some groups could be denied access to rail services.
The U-turn follows passenger regulators’ objections to the proposed closure. Transport Focus said there were “important issues critical to keeping the national network accessible to everyone that remain unresolved”.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said the government had made it clear to the rail sector that its proposals “must meet a high threshold for passenger service”.
“Throughout this process we have worked with accessibility teams and listened carefully to both passengers and my colleagues in Parliament. The proposals resulting from this process do not meet the high thresholds set by ministers, so the government has asked rail operators to withdraw their proposals.
“We will continue our work to transform our railways by expanding contactless pay-as-you-go ticketing, making stations more accessible through our Access for All program and £350 million through our Network North plan to maximize accessibility. 100 stations will be improved.”
Passenger watchdog Transport Focus said it received 750,000 responses to its ticketing consultation.
He noted that the details of some proposals, especially new customer support agreements, “are not yet fully developed.”
“The lack of an overall supply plan raises concerns that closures could occur before new measures are put in place,” the regulator said.
Anthony Smith, chief executive of Transport Focus, said: “We reject proposals to close ticket offices. The regulator has made significant changes and modifications, such as returning to the existing schedule of staff presence at many stations. Some railroad companies were closer to our criteria than others.
“However, there remains general concern about how potentially beneficial innovations such as Welcome Points will work in practice. We also have questions about how the impact of these changes will be measured and how future staffing consultations will proceed.
“Some train companies have failed to convince us of their ability to sell a full range of tickets, process cash payments and avoid long queues at ticket machines.
“Passengers should be confident they can get help when needed and buy the right ticket on the right train in time.”
Transport Focus supports the principle of redeploying ticket office staff to improve the overall offer for passengers. We also recognize the extreme financial pressures that railways face and the need to find new, cost-effective ways of operating. We will continue to work with train companies to help them resolve passenger concerns during this process.
Jacqueline Starr, managing director of the Rail Delivery Group, welcomed Transport Focus’ recognition that “the principle of moving staff where they can better serve passengers is the right one.”
“We listened and promised that stations that are busy today will overwhelmingly remain busy tomorrow, with the same opening hours.” was developed in collaboration with accessibility groups and passenger organizations. We aim to implement any changes gradually, receiving regular feedback and reviewing them, in a process that fully involves London Travel Watch and Transport Focus.
“These proposals focused on adapting rail to changing customer needs in the smartphone era, while taking into account the significant financial challenges facing the sector as it recovers from the pandemic.
“At a time when the use of ticket offices is in irreversible decline, we also want to offer our employees more interesting and rewarding careers aimed at providing more visible personal care to passengers.
“While these plans are not currently moving ahead, we will continue to look at other ways to improve the passenger experience while creating value for taxpayers. Our priority remains to ensure a bright long-term future for the industry and everyone who works in it.”
Mick Lynch, secretary of the Rail, Shipping and Transport (RMT) union, called it a “stunning victory” for the campaign against the closures.
“We are now calling for an urgent summit with the government, rail operators, disability and community organizations and passenger groups to agree a different route for the rail network that safeguards the future of our ticket offices and station staff’s jobs, as well as ensuring a safe situation. forward to ensure. a safe and accessible service that puts passengers before profits.”
Source: I News
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