Ministers have been forced into a humiliating climbdown over plans to close the majority of rail ticket offices after massive opposition from the public, consumer watchdogs and MPs.
Transport secretary Mark Harper said the Government had asked train operating companies (TOCs) to withdraw their proposals, having ‘made clear to the rail industry throughout the process that any resulting proposals must meet a high threshold of serving passengers’.
The Department for Transport said it expects train operators to comply the request and does not expect any proposals to be referred to the Mr Harper for a decision, which TOCs would have had to do after watchdogs Transport Focus and London TravelWatch formally objected on Tuesday.
The two watchdogs, which had collated the responses to the proposals from TOCs, said they had received 750,000 responses from individuals and organisations.
London TravelWatch said that 99% of responses it received were objections.
Transport Focus said the main themes that emerged from the responses included ticket machine capability, accessibility and how passenger assistance and information would be delivered in future.
It added that while, discussions with train companies have led to significant amendments and revisions to original proposals, the detail around some of the proposals are not yet well-developed and a lack of an overall delivery plan raised concerns that closures may occur before new arrangements are in place.
Jacqueline Starr, chief executive of the Rail Delivery Group, which represents TOCs, said they had ‘committed to a genuine consultation’ and pledged that in ‘the vast majority of cases', stations with staff today would continue to be staffed tomorrow and with ‘similar’ operating hours.
The Urban Transport Group welcomed the U-turn. Director Jason Prince said: ‘Questions need to be asked as to why the plans were pushed forward so vigorously, especially given the overwhelming response to them.’
Green Party London Assembly member Siân Berry called the decision a ‘victory for people power’ adding: ‘It is great to see our statutory watchdogs standing up against these proposals with us.’
She said: ‘It is outrageous that train operating companies and Government ever thought large scale closures of London’s ticket offices were even worth considering.’
Last week MPs on the Transport Select Committee criticised the plans as going ‘too far, too fast’.
