THERE are many considerations which are being aired in different quarters about proposed ticket office closures. I signed the petition, which no doubt many other readers did, opposing the planned closure of the majority of tickets offices, and I raise a couple of points.
My nearest staffed station is StourbridgeTown, which is a single platform capable of holding one coach. If, as we are told, stations that are currently staffed will remain so but with a presence on the platform, then will staff at this station be forced out of the ticket office? It will be interesting to see howWest Midlands Railway handle this! It makes sense to retain it as a point of sale.
Secondly, I regularly purchase rover or ranger tickets through my local station, whether it be Town or Junction. Will these tickets cease to exist, or will the machines be programmed to issue them? On-train staff will have to familiarise themselves with a multitude of tickets if we have no option but to purchase from them.The obstacles mount up!
Steve Burdett, Kinver