Ticket Office Closure Consultation

[whole diary]

[TaplowGreen]

One assumes that the vast majority of those will not be in favour of the idea. Elsewhere that number would be sufficient to get a debate in parliament?

I have a feeling that there will be some token gesture closures but the plan will be batted into the future past the General Election, MP^▸ (Member of Parliament)'s have a weak stomach when it come to things that might upset voters leading up to a General Election

They might, but equally (perhaps more) likely is that they will come up with a closure figure which is smaller than first mooted, enabling Unions/pressure groups to signal a victory but in reality closer to that which the industry/Government had in mind all along - "hubs" retained at larger stations etc.

Make no mistake, this is a direction of travel in the same way as retail, supermarkets, banking etc are headed - retaining the status quo when only 12% of customers use ticket offices is not sustainable or justifiable in any sense. Any stay of execution will be no more than that.

I hope that provision will be made for those unable to use modern technology to purchase tickets - those who are simply unwilling will need to adapt, as has been the case with progress and change throughout history.

At the same time, and as a matter of urgency, simplify fares so that they can all be purchased from a TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) and ensure the the new "floor walker" model of Customer Service staff have all the necessary technology to assist.

[PhilWakely]

At the same time, and as a matter of urgency, simplify fares so that they can all be purchased from a TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) and ensure the the new "floor walker" model of Customer Service staff have all the necessary technology to assist.

From what I have heard, the 'floor walkers' will be provided with tablets, but these will not be connected to ticket printers or card readers. Thus, they could provide advice, but would have no ability to sell tickets

[Bmblbzzz]

Floor walkers – are you being served?! If they won't be able to issue tickets, there will have to be far more TVMs^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) on each station, and hopefully they'll also be more usable by people of various heights, with various levels of vision, in various lighting situations, etc. But as TG points out, this elimination of staff is the clear direction of travel across everything with a retail element.

[Electric train]

One assumes that the vast majority of those will not be in favour of the idea. Elsewhere that number would be sufficient to get a debate in parliament?

I have a feeling that there will be some token gesture closures but the plan will be batted into the future past the General Election, MP^▸ (Member of Parliament)'s have a weak stomach when it come to things that might upset voters leading up to a General Election

They might, but equally (perhaps more) likely is that they will come up with a closure figure which is smaller than first mooted, enabling Unions/pressure groups to signal a victory but in reality closer to that which the industry/Government had in mind all along - "hubs" retained at larger stations etc.

Make no mistake, this is a direction of travel in the same way as retail, supermarkets, banking etc are headed - retaining the status quo when only 12% of customers use ticket offices is not sustainable or justifiable in any sense. Any stay of execution will be no more than that.

I hope that provision will be made for those unable to use modern technology to purchase tickets - those who are simply unwilling will need to adapt, as has been the case with progress and change throughout history.

At the same time, and as a matter of urgency, simplify fares so that they can all be purchased from a TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) and ensure the the new "floor walker" model of Customer Service staff have all the necessary technology to assist.

The actual direction of travel is to have totally unstaffed stations, with roving "customer support operatives" these "operatives" will be like the TfL^» (Transport for London - about) staff on the Elizbeth Line they have a tablet which as as much info on it as you or I can get from the web now, they will not be able to sell or advise on tickets.

The simplification of fares will not happen until GBR^▸ (Great British Railways) is in place, this will not be until the new Railways Act 2025 at the earliest more likely 2026; it will then take the industry a few years to restructure, so it could well be the end of the decade!!!

[old original]

Have closures by stealth started already?

I note that locally there has been some closures of ticket offices which break the hours stipulated.

St Austell has been shown on the station updates page, for the past few weeks, as "closed until further notice" and now it just says "Closed"

Truro and Penzance which were open until 20.00 and, I believe 19.00hrs M-F, both state on the station information page on the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) website they now close at 17.30.

[Electric train]

Have closures by stealth started already?

I note that locally there has been some closures of ticket offices which break the hours stipulated.

St Austell has been shown on the station updates page, for the past few weeks, as "closed until further notice" and now it just says "Closed"

Truro and Penzance which were open until 20.00 and, I believe 19.00hrs M-F, both state on the station information page on the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) website they now close at 17.30.

Could be due to ticket office staff being on leave and there being no one available to cover the shifts

[ChrisB]

I think they can amend hours as long as they aren't a 'major' change, however that is defined!

[old original]

Have closures by stealth started already?

I note that locally there has been some closures of ticket offices which break the hours stipulated.

St Austell has been shown on the station updates page, for the past few weeks, as "closed until further notice" and now it just says "Closed"

Truro and Penzance which were open until 20.00 and, I believe 19.00hrs M-F, both state on the station information page on the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) website they now close at 17.30.

Could be due to ticket office staff being on leave and there being no one available to cover the shifts

Yep, that is a possibility but it has been going on for a few weeks now. In my time it wouldn't have happened  but with the threats of closure around the staff may have started to decline o/t & rdw to make a point.

[old original]

I think they can amend hours as long as they aren't a 'major' change, however that is defined!

Again, "in my time.".. (up to 2019)  any early closing or late opening had to be notified to control, to be logged as it could be seen as not fulfilling the contract to maintain station facilities to the agreed hours.
It was monitored by the time ticket office staff logged into and off from their ticket machines

We spent over 3 years trying to get our Sunday closing time, at Truro, moved a hour because it needed the agreement of the RDG^‡(resolve) and Cross-country.

[Bmblbzzz]

Have closures by stealth started already?

I note that locally there has been some closures of ticket offices which break the hours stipulated.

St Austell has been shown on the station updates page, for the past few weeks, as "closed until further notice" and now it just says "Closed"

Truro and Penzance which were open until 20.00 and, I believe 19.00hrs M-F, both state on the station information page on the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) website they now close at 17.30.

Could be due to ticket office staff being on leave and there being no one available to cover the shifts

Yep, that is a possibility but it has been going on for a few weeks now. In my time it wouldn't have happened  but with the threats of closure around the staff may have started to decline o/t & rdw to make a point.

What is rdw? Google is only giving me "red cell distribution width".

[PrestburyRoad]

RDW = Rest Day Working, I guess

[grahame]

RDW = Rest Day Working, I guess

Or Reading West ....

[Red Squirrel]

Remember when they simplified rail fares, so that no-one was confused and everyone could easily buy the right ticket? https://youtu.be/XGyhDjQCLkY

[Electric train]

Remember when they simplified rail fares, so that no-one was confused and everyone could easily buy the right ticket? https://youtu.be/XGyhDjQCLkY

However in less than 10 years from that advert the Government would see the BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) simplified fare system being a restriction to the competitive rail market the private sector would dive down fare and improve the quality of service all ultimately with out being subsidised by the tax payer .................


Errrrrrrrrrrrrrr think they got that wrong ......... not the simplified fare 

[Bmblbzzz]

Remember when they simplified rail fares, so that no-one was confused and everyone could easily buy the right ticket? https://youtu.be/XGyhDjQCLkY

I don't remember that at all – but haven't adverts changed a lot! And museums, come to that.