Plans to close almost every railway station ticket office in England are expected to be revealed on Wednesday, Sky News understands.
Around three out of five English stations have a ticket office – the vast majority of which are owned and run by train operators.
But the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents the train companies, is due to unveil the proposals in an attempt to save money in the wake of the COVID pandemic causing a drop in revenue.
The RDG has said 12% of train tickets are now bought from offices at train stations – down from 85% in 1995 – and that they believe ticket office staff could better serve customers elsewhere.
Passengers will be asked to pay for journeys by tapping contactless cards on barriers, using self-service machines and buying tickets on trains if possible.
But trade unions – which are in dispute with the government over pay and working conditions – have already reacted angrily to the proposal, with the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association branding it “daft”.
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Interim general secretary Peter Pendle said the government would face “strong opposition from this union on the totally unnecessary mass closure of ticket offices”.
‘Short-sighted plans’
“Ministers will soon realise that the public have no desire to see their rail network diminished in this way,” he said.
“The inescapable fact is booking office staff are vital because they give passengers advice and assistance on ticket information, station security and can assist those with disabilities, limited mobility or young children.
“If it’s the case that ministers want to begin the implementation of closures by the end of the year then they are cooking up a cold Christmas for our members and millions of rail users who will not forgive them for their short-sighted plans.”
He added: “We urge people to take part in the forthcoming consultation in unprecedented numbers so that these daft proposals can be halted without delay, and that we retain a safe and fully accessible railway.”
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch on a picket line with union members
Last week, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch warned that his union would also “vigorously oppose any moves to close ticket offices”, while Neil Middleton, director at pressure group Railfuture, urged the industry to “encourage more self-service but don’t force it”.
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“If this change drives passengers off the trains, then we’ll all be worse off,” he said.
“Even though there may be a cost saving, if fewer passengers are on the trains it is very easy to see that income will reduce.
“It may be more expensive to sell to the 12% of travellers who buy in-person, but is it really a good idea to give up all of the fare of a traveller who decides not to travel by train in order to save some of the cost?”
An RDG spokesman said negotiations with the RMT over the changes have “stalled” and the industry is “now looking at how to move forward”.
He added: “While the industry is now looking at how to move forward, any changes would be subject to employee and public consultations.
“Staff always remain front of mind so as you would expect from a responsible employer, if and when the time comes for proposals on ticket offices to be published, they will be the first to know.”
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