Plans to close most railway ticket offices in England to save money “go too far, too fast”, MPs have warned.
The BBC reported that, in a letter to the rail minister, the Transport Committee said the proposals risk “excluding some passengers from the railway”.
BBC Online said that the plans, which are yet to be approved, have been put forward by train operating companies. It added that the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operators, said the companies had worked with customers and accessibility groups “to ensure that all passengers are supported”.
The report added that around three out of every five stations has a ticket office, although some are only staffed part time. Under the proposals, most would close. Some ticket kiosks would remain in large stations, but elsewhere staff would be on concourses to sell tickets, offer travel advice and help people with accessibility.
In the letter, addressed to Rail Minister Huw Merriman, transport committee chair Iain Stewart said that MPs had been looking into the potential effect of the proposals on disabled travellers.
He said some passengers had “legitimate concerns” about whether closing a ticket office would mean they can no longer access the support they need, such as with ticketing, information, safety or access assistance.
Mr Stewart wrote: “At a minimum, changes this radical should be carefully piloted in limited areas and evaluated for their effect on all passengers before being rolled out. This would allow for the alternative proposals, which at present are too vague, to be properly understood.”
A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group told the BBC: “The proposals will see staff with additional training out into ticket halls and concourses to provide face-to-face support with a whole range of needs, and no station currently staffed will become unstaffed.
“RDG and train companies will continue to engage with accessibility and safety groups, both on these proposals and more broadly, to deliver a fully inclusive and accessible railway.”
Passenger watchdogs Transport Focus and London Travelwatch are currently assessing the record number of responses that were received in a public consultation.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “While these are industry proposals, we have been consistently clear that the industry must ensure that the quality of service for passengers is maintained to a high standard.”
