Joy for campaigners as plans to close ticket offices is scrapped
A number of ticket offices across Lancashire would have closed as part of a nationwide programme to save costs.
Hyndburn councillor Mike Booth said the government had finally put “people before profits”, while Blackburn Darwen[1] Council’s leader said if the plans had gone ahead it would have led to “social isolation” for people across the local boroughs.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper revealed on Tuesday that the government had now asked train operators to withdraw their proposals, which were brought forward due to pressure from ministers to cut costs.
In the summer, Northern announced plans to close the office at Accrington station, Burnley[2] Manchester Road and Burnley Central.
This would have left Blackburn[3] as the only railway station in East Lancashire with an operating ticket office.
Preston station’s ticket office was also slated for closure.
Now, the plans have been scrapped in response to watchdogs Transport Focus and London TravelWatch announcing they opposed every single planned closure due to issues such as the impact on accessibility.
Barnfield Labour Cllr Mike Booth had submitted a motion to Hyndburn[4] full council entitled “Opposing the Closure of Accrington Rail Station Ticket Office”, calling for action to try and halt the move.
He said: “I am delighted that the plans have been scrapped.
“This would have affected a lot of vulnerable groups and I was contacted by a number of these groups, including the Blond Society over the plans.
“While some people might say bookings can be done online – a whole generation like myself are not able to navigate the internet as easily. We would much rather visit a ticket office.
“People were being overlooked.
“The ticket office is a lifeline for those using the trains and going to work.
“I am glad the government has finally put people in front of profits.”
Barnfield Labour Councillor Mike Booth and Cllr Phil Riley
Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, Cllr Riley said: “I welcome today’s (Tuesday’s) announcement by the Transport Secretary, that following consultation including with accessibility groups, the proposals did not meet the high standards expected by ministers.
“This council clearly set out its opposition to the proposals in July.
“The provision of ticket offices is vital for those not in a position to purchase tickets online or via machines, a group which includes some of the most vulnerable members of society, including the elderly, the disabled especially those with visual impairments and those with learning difficulties.
“Had these proposals gone ahead, it would have been inevitable that many passengers would have stopped using the trains, increasing social isolation.
“Encouraging and increasing the use of rail travel is also vital as part of efforts to tackle the climate emergency, a core mission of this council.”
In July, members agreed a motion outlining its opposition to the proposals and instructing the leader and chief executive to raise concerns with both the Secretary of State for Transport and local MPs.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “We have engaged with accessibility groups throughout this process and listened carefully to passengers as well as my colleagues in Parliament.
“The proposals that have resulted from this process do not meet the high thresholds set by ministers, and so the government has asked train operators to withdraw their proposals.”
Plans to close the vast majority of station ticket offices in England, plus Avanti West Coast’s ticket office at Glasgow Central, were brought forward by train operators and their representative body, the Rail Delivery Group (RDG).
This followed pressure from the government to save money amid the drop in revenue caused by the pandemic.
A train operator source said: “There is quiet fury in the rail industry about where we’ve got to.
“The plan was signed off by civil servants and ministers. They’ve U-turned.”
In September, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak suggested closing ticket offices was “the right thing for the British public and British taxpayers” as “only one in 10 tickets are sold currently in ticket offices”.
Anthony Smith, chief executive of Transport Focus, said “significant amendments” to the plans were secured, such as reverting to existing staffing times at many stations.
But he added that “serious overall concerns remain” over issues including how so-called welcome points would work, how operators would sell a “full range” of tickets, and how excessive queues at ticket machines would be avoided.
RDG chief executive Jacqueline Starr said the proposals were about adapting the railway to the changing needs of customers “in the smartphone era”, balanced with the “significant financial challenge faced by the industry”.
She added: “While these plans won’t now be taken forward, we will continue to look at other ways to improve passenger experience while delivering value for the taxpayer.”
Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union general secretary Mick Lynch said that it was a “resounding victory” for the campaign against the closures.
He added: “We are now calling for an urgent summit with the government, train operating companies, disabled and community organisations and passenger groups to agree a different route for the rail network that guarantees the future of our ticket offices and station staff jobs, to deliver a safe, secure and accessible service that puts passengers before profit.”
Katie Pennick, campaigns manager at accessibility charity Transport for All, said: “While we are proud of the incredible tenacity of disabled people and our community for securing this major campaign victory, the outcome is bittersweet.
“The disastrous and discriminatory proposals should never have been put forward.”