Crewe Railway Station ticket office to remain OPEN in government U-turn
By Ryan Parker
31st Oct 2023 | Local News
Plans to close Crewe Railway Station's ticket office and 100s more across England have been scrapped, following a government U-turn.
On Tuesday 31 October, transport secretary, Mark Harper, said the government had "asked train operators to withdraw their proposals".
Transport Focus said it had received over 750,000 responses from individuals and organisations in a public consultation.
99 per cent of these responses were objections, according to the passenger watchdogs.
Labour parliamentary candidate for Crewe and Nantwich, Cllr Connor Naismith, told Nub News: 'It's good news for passengers and staff the government have finally admitted their damaging proposals put accessibility and jobs at risk.
"I would like to thank passenger groups, accessibility campaigners, trade unions and individual residents who responded to the consultation for stopping the government in their tracks.
"However, it has to be acknowledged what an utterly colossal waste of time and taxpayers' money this has been.
"It represents yet another example of how this broken government's time is up."
It was this July, the government announced proposals to close nearly every railway station ticket office across England, with Crewe included.
Crewe South councillor, Laura Smith (Labour), told Nub News: "Well done to all those workers, trade unions and campaigners who stood together to push back against this ridiculous and unworkable suggestion.
"We need to not stop at fighting ticket offices closing but continue to use that power to demand better with regards to ticket prices, our transport infrastructure and good quality jobs that are well paid with security.
"Maybe the next campaign is demanding Avanti get the contract taken off them and we push for a publicly funded connected railway that everyone can benefit from.
"This shows clearly the public can change policies if they stand together, the lesson is not to stop and keep going."
Last week, the cross-party transport committee of MPs warned the railway ticket office plans went 'too far, too fast,' describing the consultation as lacking in transparency.
Crewe and Nantwich MP, Dr Kieran Mullan, added: "I remain of the view there is scope for reform, now technology does not require someone to be sat behind a desk to sell tickets.
"I am glad the government stuck to its promise to test any proposals thoroughly before moving forward though, and this is exactly what they have done.
"If the proposals aren't up to scratch, then it's right we rethink. I was never able to get reassurance off Avanti about the reduction in hours.
"Hearing from ticket office staff also caused me to raise concerns about the capacity of the machines, given how many tickets they sell from the office at peak times.
"But Avanti were unable to reassure me on that front either.
"This process has identified the possibility of creating agreed points of help that would provide the needed point of contact and support people rely on as an alternative if we look at changes again in future.
"Whatever happens, we will need a better ticket machine offer first. For now though, no change."
READ MORE: Wigan man charged with drink driving after Honda pulled over in Crewe.
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