The consultation period regarding the proposed closure of hundreds of ticket offices in England has been extended to September 1.
Some train companies, according to the consultation’s organizers, did not provide accessible formats, preventing individuals from responding to proposed changes.
According to watchdogs Transport Focus and London TravelWatch, more than 170,000 responses have been received.
Rail unions were concerned about employment cuts, and disability groups were concerned about accessibility.
The 21 days for passengers to voice their opinions was scheduled to end on Wednesday, but the Rail Delivery Group has extended the consultation period by nearly six weeks “to give as many people as possible the opportunity to participate.”
Lord Peter Hendy, chairman of Network Rail, told that an extension is “a really good thing for our customers because the railway should listen to passengers.”
Earlier this month, posters were posted in stations inviting the public to submit their responses.
Train operating companies have proposed the elimination of ticket offices. After being heavily subsidized during the Covid pandemic, they are under pressure from the government to reduce expenses and contend that only 12 percent of tickets are now purchased at station kiosks.
Currently, 299 stations in England operated by train companies with Department for Transport (DfT) contracts have a full-time staffed ticket office, while 708 stations are only partially staffed. Under the proposals, the majority would be shut down.
The industry believes ticket sellers, travel advisors, and accessibility employees should be on platforms and concourses.
RMT, the UK’s largest rail union, and TSSA warned that the plans could lead to layoffs.
Some rail experts recommend reforming the cumbersome ticketing system before making ticket office changes.
Blind Royal Navy veteran and frequent train rider Penny Melville-Brown said the proposed changes discriminate against the blind.
She uses train station ticket office workers since she “has no idea where to go because she cannot see anything.”
She added, “I don’t have major issues with modernizing and improving things for everyone. But when designing new systems, you must begin with the people who will have the most problems, the most vulnerable.”
The advocate for disabled rights has penned an open letter detailing the difficulty of commuting and criticizing the consultation procedure.
Tom Marsland, policy manager at the Charity for disability equality Scope, stated, “These bungled plans will make rail travel impossible or significantly more difficult for many disabled individuals.
“Extending the consultation period is not the solution. Government officials and the rail industry must return to the drawing board.”
Some disability activists and five Labour metro mayors have threatened legal action.
However, the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operating companies, has consistently defended the proposals and the consultation.
The company’s CEO, Jacqueline Starr, said the industry had a “round table” with the rail minister to address accessibility problems.
Ms. Starr responded, “I’m not going to make promises I can’t keep” when asked if she could guarantee that every ticket, including the cheapest, would still be available from machines or online.
She added that the industry would work diligently to ensure that vending machines offered as many tickets as feasible.
