Train passengers across Bath and North East Somerset have been urged to have their say on the proposed closure of ticket offices across the West of England region and the rest of the country.
Metro Mayor Dan Norris with campaigners | Photo © Freia Turland
Members of the public have a week left to give their view on proposals put forward by train operators to shut ticket offices at 974 stations, including seven in the local area.
The closure plans include booths at Bath Spa, Oldfield Park and Keynsham. An estimated 600,000 paper tickets were sold at ticket offices in the West of England last year.
Metro Mayor Dan Norris, who last month met the Rail Minister to raise his opposition to the Government’s plans, and campaigners against the proposals in Bristol, is urging people who have yet to do so to ensure their voices are heard in the consultation by visiting https://www.gwr.com/haveyoursay.
Mayor Norris said: “Many Bath and NE Somerset residents value the advice provided by staff in ticket offices. After all, tickets can be tricky – not everyone is clued up on the difference between ‘peak’ and ‘off-peak’ times, or the perks of an advance single versus a super off-peak ticket for certain journeys!
“But it has become clear to me for some time that ministers are set on rushing through these botched plans, whatever the consequences.
“They tried to do it in 21 days, and failed, and even since then, I haven’t seen any willingness whatsoever to address the real concerns of residents in the West of England who will feel the impact of these changes the most.
“I urge locals who haven’t already done so to make their voices heard in this vital consultation, and show why these proposals are not fit for purpose.
“If hundreds provide feedback, it will be ignored. If it’s in the thousands, or tens of thousands, it can’t be.
“Because we need to do everything possible to encourage people onto trains in the West of England – putting up barriers is self-defeating.
“That’s vital if we are going to meet our ambitious net-zero targets locally.”
The consultation closes on Friday 1st September.
