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Seeking train passenger views
PASSENGER Focus, the national rail watchdog, is calling on rail passengers to make their views known about plans by South West Trains to reduce the opening hours at around 100 of it station ticket offices.
Passenger Focus's research has found rail users generally trust that staff will give them the best priced ticket deal and advice for their journey.
Once passengers have put forward their views, Passenger Focus will take this feedback to the train company and Department for Transport.
Anthony Smith, Passenger Focus chief executive said: "We recognise the importance of having ticket vending machines at the station, but some passengers prefer using the ticket office or in some cases the best ticket isn't available from the machine."
Passengers who wish to comment on the SWT's proposal should get in contact with Passenger Focus at passengerfocus.org.uk or call the passenger advice team on 08453 022 022 or write to Freepost RRRE-ETTC-LEET, PO Box 4257, Manchester, M60 3AR.
7:47am Friday 18th July 2008
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CommentPosted by: Sarah Evans, Andover on 12:48pm Fri 18 Jul 08
There is a massive campaign by the RMT and the TSSA to save station ticket offices with a postcard campaign and they are urging passengers to contact Passenger Focus at the the address mentioned in the article.
If you want to complain you will need to write in the next week before the closing date.
Ticket office closures pose safety risks for people at stations alone if ticket offices are closed at weekends and in the evennings: people feel unsafe if no one is around to help.
If you are disabled or just need a little help with your bags then travelling is going to be even more difficult with these ticket office closures and if you relie on renewing your rail pass at the weekend to avoid the queues on week days then you will have to get used to queuing up on a Monday morning.
Postcards and further information are available from www.rmt.org.uk or www.tssa.org.uk who have successfully led a campaign before to prevent station ticket offices being closed down.
Let's make sure Andovder's ticket office is kept open.
South West trains just want to make more profit at the expense of the travelling public -they need to make it easier for people to travel not harder!
There is a massive campaign by the RMT and the TSSA to save station ticket offices with a postcard campaign and they are urging passengers to contact Passenger Focus at the the address mentioned in the article.
If you want to complain you will need to write in the next week before the closing date.
Ticket office closures pose safety risks for people at stations alone if ticket offices are closed at weekends and in the evennings: people feel unsafe if no one is around to help.
If you are disabled or just need a little help with your bags then travelling is going to be even more difficult with these ticket office closures and if you relie on renewing your rail pass at the weekend to avoid the queues on week days then you will have to get used to queuing up on a Monday morning.
Postcards and further information are available from www.rmt.org.uk or www.tssa.org.uk who have successfully led a campaign before to prevent station ticket offices being closed down.
Let's make sure Andovder's ticket office is kept open.
South West trains just want to make more profit at the expense of the travelling public -they need to make it easier for people to travel not harder!
Posted by: Susie, Andover on 4:58pm Mon 21 Jul 08
I hope the ticket office stays open, however my only dealing with the office was not very good. I turned up 20 minutes early to buy a ticket to Basingstoke and stood in the queue until 2 minutes before the train turned up then rushed to catch it. The queue for the ticket machine was just as bad. On the train I was worried as I had no ticket but there was no conductor to purchase as ticket from. I then had to explain at Basingstoke why I didn't have a ticket and got some very unbelieving looks before being shuffled over to the ticket desk to purchase one.
This was a very stressful experience as I felt as if I was going to be fined for not having a valid ticket as there were warning posters everywhere.
I hope the ticket office stays open, however my only dealing with the office was not very good. I turned up 20 minutes early to buy a ticket to Basingstoke and stood in the queue until 2 minutes before the train turned up then rushed to catch it. The queue for the ticket machine was just as bad. On the train I was worried as I had no ticket but there was no conductor to purchase as ticket from. I then had to explain at Basingstoke why I didn't have a ticket and got some very unbelieving looks before being shuffled over to the ticket desk to purchase one.
This was a very stressful experience as I felt as if I was going to be fined for not having a valid ticket as there were warning posters everywhere.
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