News / Transport
Plans to close rail ticket offices in Bristol scrapped
Controversial plans to close every ticket office across the Bristol region have been thrown out.
Under a consultation into the industry-wide proposals, Great Western Railway said staff would move onto platforms and concourses where they would be better placed to help customers and provide travel advice, as well as continuing to sell tickets.
The proposals sparked huge public outrage from unions, political leaders and disability groups who said the changes failed to understand small stations or the needs of vulnerable passengers.
is needed now More than ever
Now the transport secretary Mark Harper has said the government has asked train operators to withdraw their proposals.
Campaigners protested outside Bristol Temple Meads to oppose the closure of ticket booths in July – photo: WECA
Labour metro mayor Dan Norris, the elected head of the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) which is responsible for strategic transport, called the u-turn a “huge victory”.
“It’s the end of the line for these botched Conservative Government plans,” said Norris.
“This is a huge victory for West of England passengers, who delivered their message loud and clear that closing all our ticket offices is unacceptable.”
The affected stations in and around Bristol included Bristol Temple Meads, Bristol Parkway, Filton Abbey Wood, Bath Spa, Yate, Oldfield Park and Keynsham, which sold a combined 600,000 paper tickets in 2022.
Passenger watchdogs Transport Focus and London Travelwatch objected to the proposals, saying they had received 750,000 responses from individuals and organisations in a public consultation. Some 2,245 formal objections were made by West of England residents, Norris said.
Harper added: “The consultation on ticket offices has now ended, with the government making clear to the rail industry throughout the process that any resulting proposals must meet a high threshold of serving passengers.
“We have engaged with accessibility groups throughout this process and listened carefully to passengers as well as my colleagues in parliament.
“The proposals that have resulted from this process do not meet the high thresholds set by ministers, and so the government has asked train operators to withdraw their proposals.”
Main photo: Betty Woolerton
Read next:
- Every rail ticket office in Bristol region to shut
- ‘Access to transport and high streets should be right for all, not a daily gauntlet’
- Tier is here
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