We speak to a Grimsby woman with disabilities about proposals to shut rail ticket offices

She was at a protest in London

Rail ticket
Author: Andy MarshPublished 14th Jul 2023

Protests have been taking place across the country about proposals to shut rail ticket offices.

A number of local MPs from both main parties have expressed their concerns.

A major demonstration took place at Kings Cross station in London yesterday.

Rensa Gaunt from Grimsby who has a disability was there and we spoke to her.

Honestly I would consider not going on my journey

She told us: " I have to have people carry me downstairs, carry a wheelchair that costs a lot of money and that they could break but I have no other way to leave the station."

"I'm really concerned these consultations are going to go by unnoticed because it's only 3 weeks and the people most affected may not have the opportunity to respond."

"As a disabled person with a job I travel independently, I don't have people with me all the time, several parts of my journey have been interrupted with inaccessibility and it's always the staff that are there to help."

"Otherwise I have to rely on strangers."

"Honestly I would have to consider not going on my journey, I would have to consider alternative ways to do my work because I wouldn't be able to be an independent traveller as I am now."

Department of Transport says staff will remain at stations they currently are at

"People are already surprised at how much I get around for work with the current accessibility barriers there are."

"We don't need to add anymore."

The Rail Delivery Group, which represent operators, says it's due to a decline in sales from ticket offices.

The Department for Transport says the industry-led consultations will get staff into more active, customer-facing roles, and no station with workers currently there will be unstaffed.

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