The Midlands TUC is very concerned about the planned reduction in services for passengers at railway ticket offices. Below we reprint the text of a letter sent to the London Midland Franchise Manager at the Department for Transport.
Dear Mr FrizzellLondon Midland ticket offices
I am writing on behalf of the Midlands TUC to request that you uphold the objections lodged by Passenger Focus and London TravelWatch to proposals made by London Midland to reduce ticket office opening times at 87 stations.
You will be aware that there has been overwhelming and widespread opposition to the proposed cuts. Petitions with more than 14,500 signatures, 3271 campaign postcards and over 700 individual responses objecting to London Midland’s plans were received by Passenger Focus during the three week consultation period.
Additionally an Early Day Motion was tabled in the House of Commons by Coventry South MP Jim Cunningham, calling for the proposals to be withdrawn due to the detrimental effect they will have on services and jobs.
London Midland’s plans to introduce 29 Ticket Vending Machines (TVM) as replacements for staffed ticket offices are wholly inadequate. Indeed, Passenger Focus chief executive Anthony Smith pointed out that in the representations they received, passengers were “almost unanimous in their request for staff at stations, raising concerns about ticket machines and the need for staff for advice and assistance on ticket sales”.
A series of concerns were expressed by passengers during the public consultation period in relation to TVMs;
• Ticket machines do not sell the full range of rail products
• Season ticket holders cannot buy extensions
• Seats cannot be reserved
• Ticket machines do not sell promotion tickets
• The complexity of the ticketing structure means passengers need advice from trained railway staff to secure the cheapest available ticket and best possible route
• Machines cannot deal with damaged or mis-purchased tickets
• Machines are not always conveniently located
• Machines are subject to vandalism
Furthermore, passengers have made it clear both to Passenger Focus/London TravelWatch that a staff presence helps to maintain station facilities, improves security and offers reassurance to travellers, particularly those who feel most vulnerable such as women travelling alone.
The sheer scale of evidence, gathered in unprecedented numbers from across the whole of the London Midland area, presented to Passenger Focus confirms our view that the proposed changes are unnecessary.
I would therefore urge you protect station services and facilities by upholding the Passenger Focus objection.
Yours sincerely
CHERYL PIDGEON
Regional Secretary
TUC Midlands Region
Dear Mr FrizzellLondon Midland ticket offices
I am writing on behalf of the Midlands TUC to request that you uphold the objections lodged by Passenger Focus and London TravelWatch to proposals made by London Midland to reduce ticket office opening times at 87 stations.
You will be aware that there has been overwhelming and widespread opposition to the proposed cuts. Petitions with more than 14,500 signatures, 3271 campaign postcards and over 700 individual responses objecting to London Midland’s plans were received by Passenger Focus during the three week consultation period.
Additionally an Early Day Motion was tabled in the House of Commons by Coventry South MP Jim Cunningham, calling for the proposals to be withdrawn due to the detrimental effect they will have on services and jobs.
London Midland’s plans to introduce 29 Ticket Vending Machines (TVM) as replacements for staffed ticket offices are wholly inadequate. Indeed, Passenger Focus chief executive Anthony Smith pointed out that in the representations they received, passengers were “almost unanimous in their request for staff at stations, raising concerns about ticket machines and the need for staff for advice and assistance on ticket sales”.
A series of concerns were expressed by passengers during the public consultation period in relation to TVMs;
• Ticket machines do not sell the full range of rail products
• Season ticket holders cannot buy extensions
• Seats cannot be reserved
• Ticket machines do not sell promotion tickets
• The complexity of the ticketing structure means passengers need advice from trained railway staff to secure the cheapest available ticket and best possible route
• Machines cannot deal with damaged or mis-purchased tickets
• Machines are not always conveniently located
• Machines are subject to vandalism
Furthermore, passengers have made it clear both to Passenger Focus/London TravelWatch that a staff presence helps to maintain station facilities, improves security and offers reassurance to travellers, particularly those who feel most vulnerable such as women travelling alone.
The sheer scale of evidence, gathered in unprecedented numbers from across the whole of the London Midland area, presented to Passenger Focus confirms our view that the proposed changes are unnecessary.
I would therefore urge you protect station services and facilities by upholding the Passenger Focus objection.
Yours sincerely
CHERYL PIDGEON
Regional Secretary
TUC Midlands Region
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