Government Scraps Plans to Close Railway Station Ticket Offices Following Public Backlash
In a surprising turnaround, the British government has scrapped plans to close hundreds of railway station ticket offices in England following massive public opposition and objections from passenger watchdogs. Transport Secretary Mark Harper stated a failure to meet high passenger standards as the reason for scrapping the proposals.
The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) originally proposed the mass closure of ticket offices in response to financial challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. The government's sudden U-turn came after a public consultation, in which 99% of the 750,000 responses objected to the closures. Transport Focus and London TravelWatch, the passenger watchdogs managing the survey, formally objected to all of the closure proposals. Their concerns centred around potential impacts on passenger accessibility, the ability to purchase tickets, and assistance for disabled passengers.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper reiterated the government's commitment to ensuring that proposals from the rail industry meet a high threshold for serving passengers. This decision was met with relief by those who had campaigned against the closures, including the RMT union.
The rail industry expressed frustration at the U-turn, with some insiders stating that the closure plans had been approved by civil servants and ministers. The chief executive of the RDG, Jacqueline Starr, defended the original proposals, emphasising the need to adapt to the changing preferences of customers and the financial challenges faced by the industry.
While many view the government's decision to reverse the closure plans as a victory, the outcome is considered bittersweet, given the initial push for such cost-cutting measures. Disability campaigners, in particular, highlighted the importance of listening to passengers' concerns and needs when considering changes to rail services.
