Dear Editor

People may have seen on the news last Thursday night that there is now a three-week consultation period taking place regarding the closure of all rail ticket offices across the country.  

I am writing to ensure that everyone is aware of this and responds, before the government decides that it is going ahead with the closures.

We know that at present it is the rail unions who are fighting to stop this happening – not just by striking for a better pay deal but also against job losses (government code for ‘moving people out of offices onto platforms to help passengers’) and changes to their terms and conditions of employment.

They have had good support from the public on their strike days but now is the time for us to step up and show the government that we do not agree with their plans.  

Many of us still don’t use mobile phone apps to purchase tickets and I have always found the ticket office staff to be very helpful when I have any queries regarding journeys.  

I use a computer but sometimes you can’t get all the information you want and there are still people who don’t use one at all.

More help on a platform is fine, but if the government wins on closing ticket offices – read that as saving money for the shareholders – then they will be going for omo next.

One-man operated trains means only a driver and how safe will we feel then?  
The driver will be left to deal with any incidents alone which will mean hold-ups waiting for help to arrive.  

Eventually, of course, they would like to run automated trains so no staff will be involved – far fewer costs and the passengers and what they want.

We know the privatised rail companies aren’t efficient at running our services as the government has had to stop a number of contracts being renewed.  

We need the rail industry to be renationalised but run efficiently by the workers within the industry along with users, who know what is necessary and not bureaucrats, in the interests of the passengers who, after all, are the ones paying for the service.  

There should be proper government funding as in other countries for the rail industry.
Passengers can respond online as to how they might be impacted by changes to their local station here, or send postal responses to the freepost address RTEH-XAGE-BYKZ, Transport Focus, PO Box 5594, Southend on Sea, SS1 9PZ. 

If people need assistance to provide their feedback, they can also contact Transport Focus by phone on 0300 123 2350.

Ruthie McNally
Worcester Socialist Party