A shadow has been cast over the long-term future of station ticket offices by transport minister Norman Baker.
Mr Baker’ s aspiration is for the majority of passengers to use smart ticketing, which would see passengers being charged the lowest possible fair for their journey, and not have to use a ticket office. The minister even went as far as to say that “We’ve got train companies knocking at our doors to get ticket offices closed”.
One of the driving forces behind the move to close ticket offices is the recent McNulty report which recommended the closure of around 750 of the least used offices so that the industry’s running costs could be reduced. It is also believed by some in government that the conventional season ticket is less relevant today than compared to a few years ago, with many people now working flexible hours or working from home for part of the week.
The minister’s comments were attacked by both the RMT and Passenger Focus.
RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: “RMT will now step up the joint fight with our sister unions, local communities and passenger groups to stop this wanton destruction of the corner-stone of passenger service and safety.”
Anthony Smith, chief executive of Passenger Focus, echoed these sentiments by saying: “When we asked what would make passengers feel safer when travelling on the railway, the message from them was clear, increase the presence of visible staff. The closure of ticket offices might make passengers feel less safe and put them off travelling by train.”
Early indications are that there will be stiff opposition to closures and only recently were plans thwarted to close offices at Small Heath, Jewellery Quarter, Bescot Stadium, Duddeston and Adderley Park stations.
There are also concerns that some of the poorer sections of society, those who are less likely to have access to a computer or smart phone, will be marginalised by the move away from paper tickets and may not be able to benefit from the cheapest fares.
