By Ben Kerrigan-
The Uk government is to close nearly every railway station ticket office across England have been officially announced with the number of job cuts unknown.
Train company representative, the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), has made the announcement, which it says is in an effort to reduce costs as passenger numbers are the lowest since 2002 and revenue is 30% below pre-COVID levels
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Nearly all ticket offices could be shut with only the busiest stations left with open person-operated ticket facilities with the RDG unable to say how many jobs could be lost.
“We can’t prejudge the outcome of the consultations,” the group said.
Ticket office staff affected by closures will be given the option of moving to a new “multi-skilled” role with training provided, the RDG said, with train companies engaging constructively with unions to manage the transition.
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Brits will be restricted to the use of train operators’ apps or websites to buy tickets, use the self-service machines at stations or “tap in” with contactless or Oyster cards
The shutting of ticket offices is expected to be subject to a three-week public consultation period. Once that period has ended there will be discussions with staff and unions.
The closing all the offices will be done over three years.
The Unions have warned that the move would ‘bring into effect the full industrial force of the union’ to stop any closures.
Campaign groups have also raised fears that elderly or vulnerable passengers who do not have a smartphone or use the internet could miss out on cheaper tickets.
There are 1,007 stations in England run by train companies operating under contracts issued by the government.
Posters have been displayed at most stations today informing passengers about the potential closure of the ticket office.
They argue getting rid of ticket offices will lead to job losses, anti-social behaviour, and make it more difficult for wheelchair users or blind people to access trains.
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) said the closures would be “hugely detrimental” for blind and partially sighted people.
Transport Salaried Staffs Association interim general secretary, Peter Pendle, said: “We are clear the government will face strong opposition from this union on the totally unnecessary mass closure of ticket offices.
“Ministers will soon realise that the public have no desire to see their rail network diminished in this way.”
Ticket office closures were one of the main reasons for strikes by several unions over the past year.
However, the RDG says the facilities are no longer necessary as only 12% of train tickets are bought from offices at stations, down from 85% in 1995.
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