TICKET offices at Evesham railway station and Worcestershire Parkway near Pershore are among hundreds facing closure across England over the next three years.
Under the proposals to be implemented from October, some ticket kiosks would remain in large stations, but elsewhere staff will be on concourses to sell tickets, offer travel advice and help people with accessibility.
The plan has been met with concern from unions and a 21-day public consultation has been launched to collect passengers’ views.
Under the proposals, Evesham’s ticket office window will close though staff will continue to be available from 6.20am to 12.50pm Monday to Friday and 7.20am to 1.50pm on Saturdays.
Meanwhile Worcestershire Parkway’s ticket office windows will be reduced while staff will continue to be available from 5am to 8pm Monday to Friday, 7am to 8pm on Saturdays and from 8am to 4.30pm on Sundays.
Access to waiting rooms and toilets will be unaffected.
“The ways our customers buy tickets has changed and it’s time for the railway to change with them,” said Jacqueline Starr chief executive of the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents train companies.
Only 12 per cent of tickets were sold at ticket offices last year, she said, with the rest bought online or from vending machines.
In Evesham, 13 per cent of tickets were bought from the ticket office falling to 10.3 per cent at Worcestershire Parkway.
Should a passenger be unable to purchase a ticket, they would be able to buy one during the journey, at a ticket office en-route or at their destination, the RDG said.
Both the RMT and the TSSA union have warned the plans could ultimately lead to job cuts.
TSSA Interim General Secretary, Peter Pendle said: “We will continue to oppose ticket office closures which make no sense when it comes to running a railway for all and building up services in the post-Covid era.
“Ticket office staff are hugely valued by the travelling public, and we urge commuters to resist these foolish plans by sending the government a crystal-clear message that they are on the wrong track.
Visit www.transportfocus.org.uk/train-station-ticket-office-consultation for more.
