Chepstow station ticket office

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Free Press Series:

Chepstow station ticket office to stay open longer as demand increases

Additional hours are now being operated at the ticket office at Chepstow station following an increase in demand from commuters travelling from the station.

Extra staff have also been employed and the ticket office is now open from Monday to Thursday between 6am to 4pm, Friday's until 7.30pm, and Saturdays from 9am to 12.30pm. The office will also open for extended hours when there are major events on in Cardiff, and when bus replacement services are operating on Sunday's.

Owner of the rail ticket agency, Tony Pritchett, said "We've seen at least a 15 per cent increase in rail use this year. In addition I've had many people asking me to open for longer each day. Having taken on extra staff I now feel able to provide this better service."

Jim Jenkins, Chairman of Better Trains for Chepstow, welcomed the move, saying: "I'm personally very aware of the extra people now using this station to get to Birmingham, and in just 80 minutes. Even those going to Bristol, Bath, Cardiff and Swindon have shown an increase; but a regular hourly service is still required to benefit those young people seeking work or getting to college," he added.

The office at Chepstow is able to offer a range of services: from issuing tickets to helping passengers plan journeys, getting bus tickets for their destination and London underground day tickets. The office can also issue tickets to those who bought on-line. In addition the staff at the station provide information and maps to incoming tourists and other visitors.

[JayMac]

Somewhat out of FGW^▸ (First Great Western)-land, but I was visiting Chepstow yesterday and was surprised to see it now has a ticket office, operated not by Arriva Trains Wales but as an independent concern.



Good to see another independent rail ticket retailer setting up shop at a station. It seems to be something ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former Train Operating Company)) encourage with similar retailers at Pembrey & Burry Port, Llandrindod Wells and Ludlow.

I wonder if it's something FGW has considered/would consider for stations on its network? There are many stations in FGW land that have far more passengers than the examples I've mentioned in ATW land and yet have little provision of or no human ticket sellers.

I can think of one station Between Bristol and Taunton that has twice as many passengers as Chepstow yet FGW only provide a man and an Avantix^▸ (Ticket Issuing System used on board trains) for 3 hours of a morning Monday-Friday.

I wonder how easy it would be for an individual to set up a rail ticket business? Perhaps I could get me a portacabin and set up shop at Clifton Down. I'd need some start-up finance and business advice. Maybe a call to the 'Dragons'....... 

[Chris from Nailsea]

Topics now merged ... 

[anthony215]

Why dont you do some research then and see if its viable maybe you can ask the local job centre  (Seen a leaflet on this today) to lend you some start up money I am sure Bristol City Council might be interested.

[Worcester_Passenger]

Ledbury has had an independent ticket office for many years - see http://www.ledbury.plus.com/home.htm.

[JayMac]

Thanks W_P. There are others dotted around the UK^▸ (United Kingdom). One with an online presence is:

Chester-le-Track at Chester-le-Street station.

Others independent rail ticket retailers include Severn-Dee Travel at Gobowen station, Newtown Station Travel at Newtown (Powys) station and, not based at a station, Ffestiniog Travel who also offer an excellent service for booking rail tickets throughout Europe.