Ticket office is likely to close

Spalding railway station’s ticket office is among those earmarked for closure.

East Midlands Railway, along with other operators, is conducting consultations on modernisation plans which are likely to see most ticket offices closed.

But the move will not see a reduction in the number of staff at the station, according to the company.

“No station that is currently staffed will be left unstaffed as a result of these changes,” says a statement on the company website.

A phased approach is being used by EMR and the ticket offices with the least usage will be closed first.

Spalding station has lifts for passengers needing assistance, and they can only be used when the station is staffed.

“Train operators will carry out a full equality impact assessment, “ according to EMR, which says 43 per cent of its stations have staffed ticket offices part-time. Nearly half its stations are not manned at all.

“Our aim is that no one should be left behind, and train operators will continue to meet current obligations on accessibility,” says the company website.

“All train services that call at EMR managed stations will continue to have a guard on board who are able to support with any passenger assistance requests,” says EMR.

“Staff will be clearly visible around the station platforms and concourse to support wherever required.”
Spalding currently has a manned ticket office from 6.30am to 12.30pm Monday to Saturday. There are no trains on Sundays.
Under the new plan, staff currently working in ticket offices would relocate to public areas to be closer to customers and to ‘better provide a service.’
Rising numbers of passengers buy tickets online and more than 80 per cent of those bought at stations are from vending machines.
“The hours that colleagues are present may differ from today, but train companies will make sure appropriate staffing levels are provided to cover the busiest hours of peak demand,” says the company.
For details on how to take part in the consultation, se the website www.transportfocus.org.uk