Nearly every railway ticket office in England set to close with number of job losses unknown
Plans to close nearly every railway station ticket office across England have been officially announced with the number of job cuts unknown.
Sky News reported on Tuesday that plans for the mass closure of ticket offices were expected today.
Now, the train company representative, the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), has made the announcement, which it says is in an effort to reduce costs as passenger numbers are the lowest since 2002 and revenue is 30% below pre-COVID levels
Nearly all ticket offices could be shut with only the busiest stations left with open person-operated ticket facilities with the RDG unable to say how many jobs could be lost.
“We can’t prejudge the outcome of the consultations,” the group said.
Each regional train operating company will publish public closure consultation details on their website, Sky News understands.
Ticket office staff affected by closures will be given the option of moving to a new “multi-skilled” role with training provided, the RDG said, with train companies engaging constructively with unions to manage the transition.
The RDG said it hopes affected staff will naturally leave their jobs, move to different roles, or choose a voluntary exit scheme.
A closed ticket office
Any shutting of ticket offices is subject to a three-week public consultation period. Once that period has ended there will be discussions with staff and unions.
Closing all the offices will be done over three years.
Roughly three out of every five English stations have a ticket office – the vast majority of which are owned and run by the train operators.
There are 1,007 stations in England run by train companies operating under contracts issued by the government.
Posters are being displayed at the vast majority of these today informing passengers about the potential closure of the ticket office.
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‘Unnecessary’ move ‘hugely detrimental’
Unions and disability advocates have long opposed the closures.
They argue getting rid of ticket offices will lead to job losses, anti-social behaviour, and make it more difficult for wheelchair users or blind people to access trains.
It could also mean passengers are less likely to travel by train at night, opponents say.
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) said the closures would be “hugely detrimental” for blind and partially sighted people.
Transport Salaried Staffs Association interim general secretary, Peter Pendle, said: “We are clear the government will face strong opposition from this union on the totally unnecessary mass closure of ticket offices.
“Ministers will soon realise that the public have no desire to see their rail network diminished in this way.”
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Only 12% still use ticket offices, industry says
Ticket office closures were a part of the reason for strikes by several unions over the past year.
But the RDG says the facilities are no longer necessary as only 12% of train tickets are bought from offices at stations, down from 85% in 1995.
The proposals will increase, not reduce, the “proportion of staff” available to help customers, it added.
“Customers will always be able to access in person help at a station,” the industry group insisted.
Closing ticket offices will mean staff are “more visible and readily available to support customers on platforms and
station concourses, helping plan journeys, use ticket machines and being visible to deter anti-social behaviour,” the RDG said.
Passengers who currently use ticket offices will instead have to buy tickets using self-service machines, from staff on the concourse or on trains, or by contactless card payments at ticket barriers once the closures come into effect.
It’s not yet known when the first closures will take place.
Assisted dying could become legal in England and Wales after the bill was backed by MPs in a historic vote.
Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill received 330 yes votes compared to 275 noes at its second reading in the House of Commons – a majority of 55.
Politics Live: MPs voting on historic assisted dying legislation
The bill would allow adults who are terminally ill with just six months left to live to request medical assistance to end their lives.
Today’s result means the legislation will now progress to the committee stage for scrutiny, with the Lords also to be given opportunities to express their views on the measure before it potentially becomes law.
MPs were given a free vote – meaning they could side with their conscience and not along party lines, with the government staying neutral on the matter.
The division list showed Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer backed the proposal, as did Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
But other cabinet members like Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood voted against the bill, having previously warned about vulnerable people being coerced and of a “slippery slope of death on demand”.
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MPs debate assisted dying
The vote came after a five-hour debate in the chamber, which drew emotional arguments on both sides.
Conservative former minister Andrew Mitchell revealed he changed his mind on assisted dying after finding himself with “tears pouring down my face” on hearing the stories of constituents whose loved ones had died “in great pain and great indignity”.
On the other side of the argument, veteran Labour MP Diane Abbott said assisted dying could result in sick people “feeling like a burden” on society, adding: ” I can imagine myself saying that in particular circumstances.”
She warned: “If this bill passes, we will have the NHS as a fully-funded 100% suicide service but palliative care will only be funded at 30% at best.”
Bill about ‘choice and dignity’
Opening the debate on the topic, Labour backbencher Ms Leadbeater said the bill was about giving dying people “choice, autonomy, and dignity” – saying the current law was “failing” them.
Kim Leadbeater: PA
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She has insisted her bill contains “the most robust safeguards” of any assisted dying legislation in the word.
This includes two independent doctors having to approve the decision, followed by a high-court judge, with the person having to administer the drugs themselves.
The legislation also includes a maximum 14-year prison sentence for anyone who coerces someone into requesting assisted dying or taking the medicine.
Speaking to Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby after the vote, an emotional Ms Leadbeater said she was “incredibly proud” of the result and parliament must now “take on board everything that’s been discussed in the chamber”, including the state of palliative care and the rights of disabled people.
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