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

[TiredArse]

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/

You generally choose the train but later in the process you decide whether to buy advance tickets (specific trains) or an off peak return or an anytime same day return or an anytime in a month return.

I clicked on the 16.30 return today, in fact I ended up taking the 17.00 train - not an issue as I had an anytime same day return so I could take any train on that route.

Of course, you may have a wierd website that will only sell advance tickets but it seems unlikely.

That’s the plan. Driver only trains.

One of the websites charges a surcharge for getting it online. I was going to buy online but didn’t as why should it be more, I bought at the station instead, this was probably about a year ago. Why would I pay more for doing it myself, it was about a pound extra iirc

I think that’s trainline. I just use an app that doesn’t charge extra. There are a lot of them

@Talia99 It probably was trainline. I rarely travel by train so didn’t have the app, I was just buying it from my desktop at home. It was only a short journey so the surcharge was a lot for the ticket amount. I will know to use the app next time. Obviously it was to catch the infrequent traveller who wouldn’t have the app and just using the website, all those extra pounds add up

Southampton parkway had a bout 3 weeks when the ticket machines were down and the ticket office could only take cash

can only buy a ticket on the app for the 1 train, if you miss it then you have to buy a 2nd ticket (assuming you have service) and then go through the palaver of getting a refund. Its a shite app IMO

I buy my tickets online but when the service goes to shit it's nice to gave a focal point to adk questions.

When the underground closed TfL promised more staff outside on the platforms and ticket hall but it didn't happen and they've been cutting hundreds of staff since then.

Of course these staff won't be put outside or anywhere else.
That's just put about to make it seem like a good idea

It's a shame, you won't be able to walk up to the ticket window and ask for a "second class return to Dottingham" anymore.

I’ve never seen ticket office staff leave there office and help disabled that’s always down to other station staff

Personally find machines ( or online) more helpful and easy to use than going to any human in the ticket office so don’t have an issue with it

my parents ( in 80s) also do the same

Apps are great but I can’t work out where I insert my cash

The app I used is called The Key and its actually a smart card thing. So you purchase online then you have to load the ticket onto the smart card. When I did it, it took ages for the ticket to actually load onto the card. Since then I haven't bothered as its too much of a faff.

It's typical tory b*ocks. No I don't buy.ticket's for the ticket office but my sight impaired husband needs assistance. To board a train. He can't wonder round a station looking for help. My w/c bound friend can't use the station unless the lift is opened for her and she gets a ramp onto the train. Not much use to her if the assistance is on the platform and she is at the entrance. Currently it's one man who also watches for crime etc. Not staffed at night guess.when our rural station gets damaged.. Government was disabled people to work well how.about getting them.access to transport to reach the jobs.Might be fine if you live in a large city and have no disabilities but not for those.who don't. Should add i ive in and area so blue it would elect a sheep if it was a tory. But this is not going down well with the elderly vote either

That's just it, there won't be staff available on the platforms. Many stations will be completely unmanned.

Driver only trains are already a thing.

And whilst the train companies are privately run the government have a lot of say in the running of some depending on the terms of the franchise.

The government decide the % of ticket price increases and they certainly won't pass any savings on.

The staff will eventually be made redundant, the whole they will be more visible on the platform line, is just Rail Delivery Group aka Tory bullshit.

My local station has no lifts, no step free access and sometimes the barriers are left open and no one is on them.

I've carried peoples buggies, luggage etc up the stairs on my way into work. Helped a man with a walking frame navigate the stairs. I just feel there should be someone available to help people that need it.

And cutting staff isn't the way to make that happen.

If it's a choice between shutting tickets office and losing guards on trains I would keep guards in trains as important for safety.

Covid response means demand is down. So something has to change - not sure what people prefer

Tax increase / ticket price up or cut costs

Or because I’m older and don't own a smart phone?

or because I have a travel query?

or because I want to arrange some assistance for my elderly parent to get on and off the train?

…..surely you can see that some people in our society will, and do need to talk to a real human sometimes?

Totally agree. Where does it end.

That's my thoughts.

I can see the merit in merging the ticket selling role and the general information/assistance role.

What would be a big mistake is to abandon having a fixed location for those functions. If a station just has all staff floating around randomly then actually speaking to a person is easier said than done.

There's always a queue.at our ticket office. There is demand for customers to actually speak to another human.

Unfortunately everything is going this way, a decline of people using the ticket office, so the powers that be, think of the bottom line. But not everyone is can use the machines, and some people, elderly, disabled, tourists may need assistance from a ticket office.

Everything these days, is to reduce staff cost, and increase profits, pay at pump, self serve supermarket checkouts (I always avoid these) as I can see it will be another reason for job losses etc.

I cannot see how the ticket office staff will all be found jobs on the platforms, that wouldn’t make a sensible use of resources. Of course there will be redundancies, sadly.

I think we will end up with neither

I keep getting told I need to find the staff to assist me. If they're at the ticket office I can. But if they're on the platform, I'm going to struggle to get around if it's unfamiliar.