Worcester, Evesham and Cotswold railway ticket offices could close

Rail Delivery Group, which represents the country's train operators, has announced proposals aimed at modernising customer service which would see nearly all ticket offices in England shut down with only the busiest stations maintaining their facilities.

A railway worker in Worcestershire, who asked not to be named, said they were brought to tears amid fears that offices at Worcestershire Parkway, Evesham and Moreton-in-Marsh could be among those set to close over the next few years.

They said: “We've been told that, if the proposals are accepted, the ticket windows at Evesham, Moreton, Kingham and Charlbury could be closed next June, 2024.

“Worcestershire Parkway office could then close by January 2025.

“Whatever happens, the public will be much worse off.

“The elderly and disabled will end up being alienated.

“Some of us don't want to lose our little stations.

“And yes, I've cried this morning.”

READ MORE: Almost 1,000 train station ticket offices planned to be shut across England

Evesham Railway Station (Image: Newsquest)

The railway worker added: “The public need to know that this is the reason we are striking, not just for a pay deal.

“We are fighting for our jobs and for the public.

“They are being told what to do, that is not democratic.

“We don't want to abandon our public.”

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) staged their first stoppage on June 21 last year in a dispute over pay, jobs and conditions.

The move is being driven by the government's pressure on the rail industry to save money due to the revenue decline caused by the Covid pandemic.

According to the RDG, the share of train tickets purchased from station offices has dramatically decreased from 85% in 1995 to just 12% today.

As part of the consultations on the ticket office closures, train companies across England will engage with passengers to gather their input.

RDG chief executive Jacqueline Starr said: “The ways our customers buy tickets has changed and it’s time for the railway to change with them.

“With just 12% of tickets being sold from ticket offices last year, and 99% of those transactions being available on TVMs (ticket vending machines) or online, our proposals would mean more staff on hand to give face-to-face help with a much wider range of support, from journey planning to finding the right ticket and helping those with accessibility needs."

She added: "We also understand that our customers have differing needs, which is why the industry widely sought the views of accessibility and passenger groups when creating these proposals, and will continue to through the consultation."

RDG has been contacted for a response to the Worcestershire railway worker's comments.