Fate of Nuneaton Railway Station ticket office amid huge changes

Nuneaton Railway Station's ticket office has been spared the axe under proposals which will see others in Coventry and Warwickshire[1] closed. It has been revealed that the Trent Valley station's office is one of the very few not planned to be shut.

In fact, it is to become one of just four London Northwestern Railway new hubs, which are set to offer enhanced retail facilities and customer support. Bedworth[2] and Bermuda stations, as well as the nearby Coventry[3] Arena station, do not have a ticket office.

But, under what are being dubbed 'modernisation' plans, they are set to see 'an enhanced staff presence; at these two stations. Staff from new mobile teams are due to be sent here, on a 'flexible basis' to undertake customer service, passenger assistance, safety and general upkeep duties.

However, there are some ticket offices set to close, including Canley[5] and Tile Hill in Coventry and Stratford in the south of Warwickshire. London Northwestern Railway said that they, like other train operators in England, want to bring employees out from behind ticket office windows to be closer to customers.

They say that the change, the biggest since the 1990s, comes as sales from ticket offices have fallen from 82 per cent to 12 per cent over the past 30 years. Ian McConnell, managing director of West Midlands Railway, said: "We need to evolve with our customers, as well as creating a more sustainable railway that’s fit for the future.

“Our proposals would mean staff being more visible and available where customers most need them; on concourses and platforms to help with journey planning, finding the right ticket and supporting passengers with accessibility needs.

“We understand that some customers have complex needs and some are less comfortable using digital technology. That’s why we will be consulting widely with relevant groups and looking at ways of supporting all our customers to ensure that no-one is left behind.”

Anyone who would like to comment on the proposed changes to ticket offices customers can contact Transport Focus, the independent transport user watchdog, by Wednesday, July 26 at [email protected][6] or Freepost: RTEH-XAGE-BYKZ, Transport Focus, PO Box 5594, Southend on Sea, SS1 9PZ.

For the latest Nuneaton stories you can get them emailed to you by signing up here[7]

References

  1. ^ Warwickshire (www.coventrytelegraph.net)
  2. ^ Bedworth (www.coventrytelegraph.net)
  3. ^ Coventry (www.coventrytelegraph.net)
  4. ^ New housing application for land in Nuneaton turned down (www.coventrytelegraph.net)
  5. ^ Canley (www.coventrytelegraph.net)
  6. ^ [email protected] (www.coventrytelegraph.net)
  7. ^ here (data.reachplc.com)

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