THE LABOUR Party in Mid Worcestershire is campaigning to save the regions ticket offices after it was announced that government managed train companies plan to close nearly 1,000 of them across the UK.
The new government proposals mean all railway station ticket offices in the region, except for Worcester Foregate Street, will be closed and replaced with new mobile teams who will be deployed at stations on a flexible basis.
The Mid Worcestershire Labour Party fear the new plans will lead to widespread redundancies, reduce safety and security at stations and worsen access for elderly, disabled and low income passengers among other issues.
Worcester Foregate Street ticket office will remain as it is due to become a new ‘hub’ station under the proposals.
Hub stations will be spread across the network at particularly busy locations, where staff will be available throughout the week to assist with ticket purchases, customer service duties, passenger assistance, safety and general upkeep.
A spokesperson for Mid Worcs Labour Party said: “The planned closures are another example of the service provided to passengers being worsened despite the yearly price increases we have seen year after year.
“We oppose these proposed changes to ticket offices.
“We believe that ticket offices and station staffing must be protected in order to maintain passenger service, safety, security and accessibility.”
The new proposals are open to consultation until July 26, meaning people can write in to West Midlands Railway – the company responsible for railway stations in the region – to give their views on the plans.
Visit: https://chng.it/ZjJ8pXcqHg to sign Mid Worcs Labour Party’s petition.
Email: [email protected] to comment on the proposals by July 26, 2023.
