Opposing rail ticket office closures

The UK Government is planning to close a number of staffed ticket offices across England. This will leave passengers to book online or buy their tickets at ticket vending machines (TVMs). We’re concerned that this could cause numerous issues for disabled people. From issues of personal safety to transport accessibility.

Public consultations on these proposed changes are now open for only 21 days, so we have an opportunity to speak up. Transport for All, a charity striving to make transport more accessible, have created a template on how to respond to the consultation, so you can have your say. 

Have your say on the Transport for All website

How would ticket office closures affect disabled people?

Closing ticket offices will force passengers to use alternative means to purchase tickets. Either through booking online or using the TVMs at the station. For some disabled people, neither of these options are accessible.

Currently, many staffed stations only have staff in the ticket office. Should ticket offices be closed or have hours reduced, there will be a major reduction in staffing levels at stations. This threatens the provision of assistance, as well as the availability of facilities like accessible toilets, heated waiting rooms and lifts, which are often closed while stations are unstaffed (or are accessed with keys that only staff can provide).

Recent research has also found that visible staff at stations made disabled people, as well as other groups, feel safer when travelling. Passengers reported that without staff they wouldn’t know how to get help in the event of a crime or incident.

How can you help to stop these unjust reforms?

Transport for All have produced a template letter of objection. This will help people stop these changes in their tracks by writing to their local passenger support groups.

Their online tool allows you to:

1. find the correct email address to contact depending on where you live 
2. write your letter of objection using their template or your own words.

Have your say on the Transport for All website

Once you’ve done this please share and spread the word, we need as many people as possible to speak out.

The more of us that raise our voices, the more evidence passenger bodies have to push back against the proposals.

For more information on the proposed reforms and the action itself please go to the Transport for All website.