Why could train station ticket offices be shut in England?

Almost one thousand train station ticket offices are anticipated to be shut in the near future, according to reports.

Industry bosses are expected to confirm a public consultation on the gradual closures of hundreds of ticket kiosks over the next three years today (Wednesday, July 5).

Facilities at the country’s largest stations – such as London terminals and those serving major city centres – will remain open.

Elsewhere staff will be on concourses to sell tickets, offer travel advice and help people with accessibility.

Currently, there are 1,007 stations run by train companies operating under contracts issued by the Government.

There are more than 1,000 train station ticket offices around England (Image: Gareth Fuller/PA Images/PA Wire)

Figures of the proportion of tickets sold from ticket offices have dropped further in recent years, with the RDG saying it has fallen from 24% in 2019 to just 12% in 2022.

Why would train station ticket offices end up closing?

The RDG says it wants to modernise customer service, and it is working to introduce tap-in contactless barriers into more stations.

The industry is also under pressure from ministers to save money amid huge losses due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Additionally, the RDG says 99% of transactions made at offices last year can be made at ticket machines or online.

As part of the changes, ticket machines will be upgraded and many staff will have handheld devices.

In response, the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) says it will “vigorously oppose” the proposals.

Alongside them, the Transport Salaried Staffs Association claims the public has “no desire to see their rail network diminished in this way”.

Additionally, The Royal National Institute of Blind People says a mass closure of ticket offices would have a “hugely detrimental impact” on the ability of blind and partially sighted people to travel independently.