Salisbury's MP wades into train ticket office closure row
John Glen's been sharing his opinion on the issue
Salisbury's MP has been explaining how he feels about proposed ticket office closures at train stations.
A consultation on the plans, which would include shutting counters at Salisbury and Tisbury stations |newtab), ends tomorrow (Friday 1st September).
The changes would see staff would have previously manned the ticket office being redirected onto platforms to support customers.
In his latest blog, John Glen's explained that he's had lots of letters and emails on the issue.
He says he can understand the need for changes, but would only support them if staff remain at stations:
"I completely agree that many people both enjoy and rely on being able to get travel advice and buy their tickets face to face.
"The proposal is not to remove staff from stations or to stop them from selling tickets to customers but to simply bring more of them out from behind glass screens.
"A lot of ticket office staff are employed keeping ticket offices open but they are now serving fewer than 1 in 10 travellers rather than the one in three they were serving just 10 years ago.
"By getting them out from behind the glass screens, they can not only sell tickets on hand-held devices, but also be better able to notice and come to the assistance of people who are in difficulties."