The plans have come under fire from disability campaigners (Picture: Shutterstock/Michael715)
Plans to close nearly every train ticket office in England over the next three years are to be unveiled tomorrow.
Industry body the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) will set out proposals to shutter hundreds of the facilities, which can currently still be found at around three in five offices.
The move will spark fury among rail unions – and it is likely to evaporate hopes that devastating strikes will come to an end any time soon.
There are concerns ticket office closures would mean significant job losses, and discourage vulnerable disabled or elderly passengers from taking the train.
The vast majority of the offices are owned and run by train operators, which are under pressure to cut costs amid the drop in revenue caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The RDG pointed to figures showing the number of tickets bought from offices in stations has fallen by 73% since 1995.
Instead, passengers will be asked to buy tickets online, on the train or at self-service machines – or avoid the process altogether by tapping a contactless card on barriers.
Ticket offices have been one of the sticking points in negotiations between train operators and unions (Picture: Rail Photo/Construction Photography/Avalon/Getty Images)
TSSA interim general secretary Peter Pendle said: ‘We are clear the government will face strong opposition from this union on the totally unnecessary mass closure of ticket offices.
‘Ministers will soon realise that the public have no desire to see their rail network diminished in this way.
‘The inescapable fact is booking office staff are vital because they give passengers advice and assistance on ticket information, station security and can assist those with disabilities, limited mobility or young children.’
He called on the public to take part in the consultation over the plans ‘in unprecedented numbers’ and voice their opposition.
The RDG argues that people will be able to use self-service machines instead (Picture: Geoffrey Swaine/Shutterstock)
Last week, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch warned the union would ‘vigorously oppose any moves to close ticket offices’.
Vivienne Francis, chief social change officer at the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) said such a mass closure would have ‘a hugely detrimental impact’ on blind and partially sighted people’s ability to travel independently.
She added: ‘RNIB research shows that only 3% of people with sight loss said they could use a ticket vending machine without problems and 58% said it was impossible.’
‘The government claims it wants to “bring staff out from behind the glass” but in truth, it risks leaving blind and partially sighted people behind a new barrier.’
Earlier today, the government announced plans to introduce ‘tap-in, tap-out’ payment at 53 train stations in the south-east by the end of the year.
Ultimately, the technology is planned to be extended to 200 stations across the region.
An RDG spokesman said negotiations with the RMT over the changes have ‘stalled’ and the industry is ‘now looking at how to move forward’.
He added: ‘Any changes would be subject to employee and public consultations.
‘Staff always remain front of mind, so as you would expect from a responsible employer, if and when the time comes for proposals on ticket offices to be published, they will be the first to know.’
Disability campaigners and unions have criticised the plans.