Hundreds of station ticket offices would be shut down across England over the next three years, according to the current plans of train operators.
However, a few ticket booths would still be present in major stations under the proposed changes, but staff members would be stationed on concourses to sell tickets, provide travel assistance, and assist those who need it.
Also, unions and disability organizations have expressed worries about the plan. A 21-day public consultation has been initiated to solicit feedback from travelers.
Posters have been placed at stations to encourage public participation, and the government would be making the final choice on which offices must closed. Currently, a ticket office can be found in about three out of every five stations, while some of them only have part-time workers.
“The ways our customers buy tickets have changed, and it’s time for the railway to change with them,” said Jacqueline Starr, CEO of the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents train operators. She promised a gradual implementation of the adjustments.
Starr disclosed that, only 12% of tickets were purchased in person at ticket booths last year, with the remainder being obtained online or via vending machines.
According to the proposals, passengers who were unable to purchase a ticket might do so while traveling, at a ticket office along the way, or at their final location, the Rail Delivery Group stated. However, a lot of rail users are worried that, the adjustments will make it more difficult for them to travel, because they depend on assistance at ticket offices.
According to the RDG, workers would be just as accessible as they are currently, but on the terminal, where they will be able to assist customers on their planning routes and issue tickets.
The TSSA union and RMT, the largest rail union in the UK, have both expressed concerns that, the measures would ultimately result in job losses. On the other hand, the proposal has also long been rejected by some disability rights activists.
Moreover, with only 3% of such persons being able to use a computer, Vivienne Francis of the Royal National Institute of Blind persons (RNIB) warned that, it would be “detrimental” for those who are visually impaired or partially blind.
Moreover, former managing Director of South West Trains and Director of Rail Future, Stewart Palmer claimed that, the consultation “put the cart before the horse.”
“One of the root causes of this issue is that the present ticketing system on the rail network in Britain is mind-bogglingly complicated. People want versatile, knowledgeable staff, not necessarily behind a glass screen, but they also want to be knowing they’re buying the right product at the right price.”
Stewart Palmer, Director of Rail Future.
The matter has been the most recent source of contention between railway companies and unions, who have been engaged in a protracted conflict over compensation, employment opportunities, and working conditions, leading to a number of strikes since last summer.
Furthermore, after receiving significant government backing during the Covid-19 epidemic, the rail industry has been under enormous pressure to reduce expenses. According to the RDG, revenue still stands at 30% lower than it was before the pandemic.
According to the Department of Transport, the suggestions are not about job cuts, but about modernizing the railway to ensure the sector’s survival.
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