Train ticket office decision welcomed by Worcestershire County Council
Members of the authority say they're delighted
Last updated 3rd Nov 2023
Worcestershire County Council’s Transport Chief has welcomed the announcement that plans to close rail ticket offices across the country have been withdrawn.
It emerged this week that the Government had asked train operators to withdraw their proposals because, according to them, they failed to meet high passenger standards.
The plans by train operators to close the vast majority of rail ticket offices were revealed in July. But there was widespread concern around ticket machine capability, accessibility and how passenger assistance and information would be delivered in the future.
When the plans were first announced in the summer, Worcestershire County Council submitted a consultation response to Transport Focus, the organisation that co-ordinated the national consultation.
Today, Councillor Mike Rouse, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Highways and Transport, said: "Worcestershire County Council submitted a consultation response early in the process and we were delighted when our district council partners and others across Worcestershire also took up the mantle of challenging these controversial proposals.
“We could see from the start that they simply were not going to work for Worcestershire and that was a point I made to Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street who chairs the West Midlands Rail Executive.
“It was Worcestershire who proposed the motion at a meeting of the West Midland Rail Executive (WMRE) to oppose the closure of ticket offices and we were supported right across the Midlands by urban and rural councils alike.
“We passionately believe in the benefits of staffed ticket offices and we were proud to lead the charge on this issue but even prouder of our communities who responded in their thousands."
Ten train stations in Worcestershire currently have staffed ticket offices.