Theresa Villiers, MP for Chipping Barnet, has welcomed the decision by the Rail Delivery Group to extend the consultation on the future of ticket offices until 1st September.
This group represent Network Rail and the train operators and have been consulting on whether to close many ticket offices and replace them with staff located around the station to assist passengers. These plans include New Barnet, Oakleigh Park and New Southgate which are served by Great Northern services operated by Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR).
Former Rail Minister Theresa Villiers said, “Passengers have strong views on ticket offices. In my response to the consultation, I called for more engagement with the public, rail workers and disabled groups. I therefore welcome extension of the consultation to September.”
“The way people buy tickets has altered significantly in recent years. But even taking on board these changes, there will always be people who need someone to assist them with buying tickets. I have a series of important concerns which that GTR must address before they can justify changes to ticket office availability.”
“They say staff in stations will provide advice on ticket-buying, but they must provide guarantees that these staffed hours will continue for long term, and not be withdrawn. We also need assurances that staff will be properly trained to assist customers with disabilities who need advice on ticket purchase.”
“Ticket machines will have a greater significance if ticket offices close. Whilst Oyster/contactless pay-as-you-go is used for many journeys into London, the stations in my constituency also serve destinations outside of the capital, beyond the Oyster zone. It is vital that my constituents have simple and straight-forward access to tickets to these destinations.”
“That requires easy-to-use reliable ticket machines. GTR must provide commitments on the quality of ticket machines, on the speed with which faults will be remedied, and what happens to passengers who board a train having been unable to buy a ticket because the machine is broken.”
“Until I receive satisfactory reassurance on these points, I must oppose the plans for ticket office closures set out in this consultation.”
The consultation proposes to replace ticket office hours with staffed hours at Oakleigh Park and New Southgate. Slightly extended staffed hours, beyond current ticket office opening times, are proposed for New Barnet. Further information can be found here.
