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Original poster

To think they shouldn’t close 1,000 rail ticket offices?

356 replies

TiredArse · 05/07/2023 17:19

Latest plan to ‘improve’ the railways. Up to 1,000 will close.

We’ll be left with those shitty, self service machines that are a pain to use on a good day. Got a disability or struggle to use a machine? Tough shit. Got a query? Tough shit.

Does anyone actually believe that the money saved will reduce fares or improve services?

You can fill in the consultation form here - not easy to see, you have to click on the words ‘consultation response form’. https://www.transportfocus.org.uk/train-station-ticket-office-consultation/

OP posts:
ActDottie · 05/07/2023 19:09

This doesn’t bother me. Our ticket office is barely open anyway and I just use self service machine or buy on my phone. If the self service machine is down I sometimes take a photo of it and then buy on the train.

User106487665 · 05/07/2023 19:10

Like anything, it's probably quite easy if you use it often, like buying something from a favourite shop, you details and card are already here, ready to go. If you don't use it very often though it takes an age.

Blackcatsalwaysrock · 05/07/2023 19:12

I remember once catching the train to Cardiff. Bought the ticket at a ticket office and put it into my iPhone case. Didn’t work when I tried to get out of the station at Cardiff - which required you to release the barrier by putting in your ticket. I would probably still be there if a member of staff hadn’t been around to sort me out so I was glad he was there. PS Apparently the proximity of the iPhone b***s up the chip or whatever on the ticket.

MadamWhiteleigh · 05/07/2023 19:12

There’ll still be plenty of staff to
help people, it’s just that they’ll be up and about around the station instead of sitting behind a desk.

the80sweregreat · 05/07/2023 19:15

They won't put people on the platforms
Anyone swallowing that line are deluded
Maybe at first. Then they will end up redundant

SunnyEgg · 05/07/2023 19:16

the80sweregreat · 05/07/2023 18:59

Machines baffle me I'm afraid.
I think it's because I can remember when you saw a person who actually knew what you wanted and it was less stressful all round
I do despair at it all

I know it can feel hard but you may well be ok

Tryingtokeepgoing · 05/07/2023 19:20

Has anyone used a ticket office this century…? Ticket machines have been ubiquitous for ever. Now superseded by The Trainline app..buy on the way to the station and download a digital ticket. We’re all happy to buy plane tickets online - why would a train ticket be different?

Talia99 · 05/07/2023 19:23

Lemevoir · 05/07/2023 18:50

If they do this, they need to install more ticket machines - ideally one on each platform.

I really dislike using the ticket machine. The one at my local station is positioned so that the sun glares on it in the mornings making the screen hard to see.

No matter what people say, some people do struggle to use the machines. I'm relatively savvy, but I accidentally purchased a single rather than return recently on the machine (only 5p difference in price, so I didn't notice until I got one paper ticket instead of two). So then I had to queue up at the ticket office to get it exchanged and pay the 5p extra.

And also, I sometimes buy 'split tickets' as I often need to start a journey before 10am but I can't use my railcard until after 10am to save 1/3 on my ticket. So I'll buy a full price ticket to the first station that I'll get to after 10am and then buy a discounted ticket for the rest of the journey. I haven't found a way of doing that using the machine as I think the starting station has to be the one you're actually at. But no problem to purchase such a split ticket from the ticket office.

And also, buying through the app is a pain as I think you have to wait up to two hours for the ticket to be added so you can't just buy it at the last minute.

Which app are you using? I’m in the Midlands and use the West Midlands train app. There was some suggestion of cancellations this week due to staff refusing overtime so I’ve been checking my phone at home, buying a ticket which instantly appears then driving the 10 minutes to the station (20 minutes before the ticket office opens) and boarding the train. No waiting and no risk of having a useless ticket on a cancelled train (I have to get to work by a certain time so I can’t wait for the next train) and no need to travel to the station to find out the train is cancelled.

Similarly, there would be no issue buying a split ticket on the app I use. You can buy from any station to any station.

CheeseBandit · 05/07/2023 19:25

I do remember they put someone on the platform at Darlington, meant you could walk up to speak to someone fairly quickly, if a train was delayed they could speak to several people which was helpful.
I think main stations should still have offices, they said on the radio they Newcastle would Lee theirs.

CheeseBandit · 05/07/2023 19:26

Keep not Lee!

MothralovesGojira · 05/07/2023 19:27

The facts are:

less than 15% of tickets purchased are bought from a ticket office.
This plan isn't new - it's been at least 5 years in development
The train companies are not making vast profits on rail travel and many are running on very tight margins
Ticket office staff will be moved on to platforms where they will help people buy tickets and other platform staff will be multi trained also. Ticket office staff will not be waving trains off as this is actually a safety critical role that needs a lot of training for and is a specialised role.
No one has been issued with redundancy notices today - they have been given letters indicating that their current role in under threat (section 188???) and that redundancy is a possibility if they chose not to retrain.

Most of the staff at our large station are actually behind the changes - I know because I asked them this afternoon on my way home.

the80sweregreat · 05/07/2023 19:30

It just doesn't feel ' progressive' but maybe because I remember a time when things were done for you a lot more
It's only going to get worse too I suppose

luckylavender · 05/07/2023 19:30

TiredArse · 05/07/2023 17:19

Latest plan to ‘improve’ the railways. Up to 1,000 will close.

We’ll be left with those shitty, self service machines that are a pain to use on a good day. Got a disability or struggle to use a machine? Tough shit. Got a query? Tough shit.

Does anyone actually believe that the money saved will reduce fares or improve services?

You can fill in the consultation form here - not easy to see, you have to click on the words ‘consultation response form’. https://www.transportfocus.org.uk/train-station-ticket-office-consultation/

I've just had my say. Terrible idea. The ticket office at Brighton & Hove is always full and has a queue. Tickets machines are rubbish and you can often get cheaper tickets in the office.

Drews · 05/07/2023 19:30

They is always staff at the gates so it's not as if you have to wander around looking for people.

Lemevoir · 05/07/2023 19:32

Talia99 · 05/07/2023 19:23

Which app are you using? I’m in the Midlands and use the West Midlands train app. There was some suggestion of cancellations this week due to staff refusing overtime so I’ve been checking my phone at home, buying a ticket which instantly appears then driving the 10 minutes to the station (20 minutes before the ticket office opens) and boarding the train. No waiting and no risk of having a useless ticket on a cancelled train (I have to get to work by a certain time so I can’t wait for the next train) and no need to travel to the station to find out the train is cancelled.

Similarly, there would be no issue buying a split ticket on the app I use. You can buy from any station to any station.

Show quote history

It's the southeastern one. I think the ticket generally loads immediately but the first time I used it it said to allow a couple of hours before travel.

And yes, I have bought split tickets through the app, but it was such a faff. Can't remember what the problem was now, but it wasn't straightforward.

VintageThoughts · 05/07/2023 19:33

My local station has a ticket office and a machine. There are always huge queues for the office and the machine is largely ignored.

I've had to use the office many times to sort out problems with rail cards etc.

Ours is one that is closing and I'll be really sad to see it go.

purpleme12 · 05/07/2023 19:33

I can't believe they're doing this. I think it's awful.
And yes I do get tickets from the people at the desks unless there's not the option.
I much prefer people to these machines

the80sweregreat · 05/07/2023 19:34

It's all just crap really !
Not progressive at all

CantFindTheBeat · 05/07/2023 19:40

I think the question is:

How often do you travel by train, and what proportion of those tickets do you buy at an office versus online?

The need and demand just doesn't make commercial sense.

Having staff available to support is a better option.

the80sweregreat · 05/07/2023 19:43

I bet you a pound to a penny the staff won't be on the platforms for long
Maybe for a few months, then it'll be decreased , then you'll see nobody around at all

Tryingtokeepgoing · 05/07/2023 19:44

Talia99 · 05/07/2023 19:23

Which app are you using? I’m in the Midlands and use the West Midlands train app. There was some suggestion of cancellations this week due to staff refusing overtime so I’ve been checking my phone at home, buying a ticket which instantly appears then driving the 10 minutes to the station (20 minutes before the ticket office opens) and boarding the train. No waiting and no risk of having a useless ticket on a cancelled train (I have to get to work by a certain time so I can’t wait for the next train) and no need to travel to the station to find out the train is cancelled.

Similarly, there would be no issue buying a split ticket on the app I use. You can buy from any station to any station.

Show quote history

The Trainline app suggest when a split ticket is cheaper than a direct one, and the ticket is always available for immediate download. I think you’ve got a better chance of getting the cheapest fair using the app/on-line than an office anyway. And I certainly can’t think of when you’ve ever had to wait to download a ticket…🤔

Scarlettpixie · 05/07/2023 19:47

I live in a town and we don’t have a ticket office. Never have in my lifetime (50 years). People manage just fine buying online, from the machine or on the train.

purpleme12 · 05/07/2023 19:48

I always buy from a person if there's a person there.
But otherwise the machines are better than the website I think.
The website seems to make you choose a certain train.I don't like doing that in case I miss it for whatever reason.

Glittertwins · 05/07/2023 19:50

I prefer using the ticket office. The machines at our stations are awful - the touch surface is out of kilter with what I want to select, it then either doesn't pick up the selection or repeats it. The final straw was when it took payment and then couldn't print out all my tickets / receipt. Fortunately the ticket office then opened (was supposed to have already been open) so I got it sorted after a lot of explaining. But how would I have got that done if it wasn't open?

the80sweregreat · 05/07/2023 19:53

Do they still have inspectors on the trains ?
They will be gone next I suppose