Beeston Civic Society has responded, on behalf of its members, to the EMR consultation on proposed Ticket Office closures at our local stations.
Our response in full:
“The Beeston and District Civic Society is a charity that aims to protect and enhance our community, we consider the proposed changes will be to the detriment of our community.
There are two stations in our area, Beeston and Attenborough.
Beeston is a very busy station with services to London, other cities and local stations. Presently, it has a ticket office, which in manned hours is busy and a good source of advice on routing, train times, the complicated ticket pricing and information about operating services across the whole rail network. There is only one ticket machine on the busiest platform (westwards) so there is concern about capacity and reliability. Despite EMR budgeting for capital improvements to enhance access to the station in their franchise agreement this closure actually hinders access for
- those without technology or connectivity to order tickets
- the elderly, those with disabilities or carers in charge of the disabled, children and the elderly – many of whom rely on face to face contact when buying tickets.
Our understanding is that lifts are not permitted on unmanned stations so a concern is that the absence of staff at Beeston Station will also affect this long promised access improvements for disabled passengers.
Attenborough is unmanned, has no ticket office and only one ticket machine – people boarding trains without a ticket are liable to prosecution and passengers using the platform where there is no machine have to take a long trip to the ticket machine (if it is working) and back to their platform. There are no real time information services and a poorly resourced telephone point to EMR/NR staff. Despite EMR budgeting for capital improvements to enhance access to the station in their franchise agreement nothing has happened and we are left with poor access for those without technology or connectivity to order tickets, the elderly, those with disabilities or those carers in charge of children and the elderly. Another ticket machine would be an improvement!
Proposals to close ticket offices discriminate against the most vulnerable in our society, creates further unemployment and reduces service quality whilst helping the franchises to make ‘efficiency savings’ and increase the profitability of private passenger rail companies. The proposal needs to be reconsidered taking in its broader implications on our communities.
Yours sincerely
Beeston and District Civic Society
Beeston Civic Society 