'Save Medway's Rail Ticket Offices ' - say the Lib Dems

*photo by alan wells

Medway Liberal Democrats are responding to recent reports that all 980 staffed ticket offices in England could be closed, following discussions between the Department for Transport and the Rail Delivery Group and changes to the Government guidance relating to ticket office opening hours. We believe that ticket offices provide a vital service to residents in Medway.

Earlier this year the Government amended it guidance on Train Operators regarding ticket offices. This has led to growing fears that England staffed rail ticket offices could be under threat of closure following comments from both Transport Minister Grant Shapps and the Rail Delivery Group that represents train operators. Concerns have been raised over the possible implications for current station staff and possible staff redundancies.

Alan Wells, spokesperson for Medway Liberal Democrats said, "Having a clearly sign-posted place in the station for people with ticket enquiries provides certainty and confidence for customers who may struggle to otherwise locate station staff.

Not all residents are able to use station ticket machines, or have the means to book a ticket in advance. This will put off a lot of people who want to visit Medway and our region by rail. In a time of hard economic and environmental challenges we do not need more barriers that put people off using public transport.

Complicated journeys involving connections are likely to require human assistance to ensure customers purchase the most appropriate and cheapest tickets, and do not incur penalties from mis-booked tickets."

We are concerned the closure of ticket offices will disproportionately affect elderly and disabled residents in Medway as well as those with poor literacy and IT skills, alongside those who may not know how to select the most appropriate journey options to keep fares down. AGE UK estimate that 3 million elderly people in the UK do not have access to the internet, and many more do not have a mobile device.

Kent is one of the busiest and most congested routes in the country, carrying over 2,600 trains every weekday. We are calling on the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Transport, and the Government Railways Minister, expressing opposition to the possible closure of staffed rail ticket offices and in particular offices at across all Medway train stations as well to write to South Eastern Rail, expressing the opposition to any plans to close the staffed ticket offices in Medway.

ENDS