REDDITCH MP Rachel Maclean has raised concerns about the proposed closure of the ticket office at Redditch Railway Station.
A number of residents have written to the town’s MP and she said she would be ensuring their voices were heard by taking part in the consultation on the changes.
In a letter submitted as part of the consultation, Mrs Maclean has urged rail operators to consider the impact of the proposed ticket office closures on blind, partially sighted and disabled people.
She said: “Understandably a number of constituents have contacted me about the proposed closure of ticket offices and the impact this would have on their access to the railways.
“The rail operators must take into account how their proposals will affect those who rely on ticket offices the most.”
Under the proposals, open for consultation until next Friday, September 1, hundreds of operating ticket offices – excluding ‘hub stations’ – will be totally replaced by automated ticket machines and new ‘mobile teams’ which will operate on a ‘flexible basis’.
The new mobile teams are intended to provide customer service, passenger assistance, safety and general upkeep duties in the absence of permanent railway station staff.
Hub stations will be spread across the network at particularly busy locations for example Worcester Foregate Street and Birmingham Snow Hill, where ticket office services will remain available.
People wanting to take part in the consultation need to visit transportfocus.org.uk before next Friday’s deadline to have their say.
Residents are also urged to contact their MP by emailing [email protected] with their views.
