March railway station ticket office under threat of closure
March railway station’s ticket office is among nearly 1,000 nationwide that are facing closure.
The Railway Delivery Group has announced proposals that will see 974 ticket sales offices close and people have until July 26 to comment.
Train operator Greater Anglia, which runs March station, which only last year saw completion of a two-year major refurbishment of its ticket hall and waiting room and c, explains the aim is to change the way tickets are sold and customer service is provided at stations.
Greater Anglia and the RDG both argue the plans would provide a more modern and flixble service for customrs and whilst passengers would be unable to buy tickets directly from a staff member, there would be someone to help with ticket queries and information.
Customers would also have direct access to the Greater Anglia customer contact centre in Norwich via a ticket machine for guidance and advice.
There is also a promise that no station would become unstaffed as a consequence of the proposals and other station facilities, such as waiting rooms and toilets, would be unaffected.
Passenger assist arrangements would still apply, with additional mobile assistance teams providing extra support.
Greater Anglia says: “The proposals form part of plans to modernise the railway and bring it more in line with modern consumer expectations. They reflect significantly reduced usage of ticket offices over the past decade, as customers move to alternative, more convenient ways of buying tickets. Most tickets are now bought either online or through ticket machines.
“Under the plans, staff would undertake a new, more flexible ‘customer host’ role, providing advice about the best and cheapest fares, and supporting customers with other queries and accessibility needs, rather than being confined to the ticket office.”
Greater Anglia concludes: “It should be made clear that these proposals are subject to this public consultation process. Only when this process has been completed will decisions then be taken on exactly what plans are taken forward.”
