The consultation on rail ticket offices has now been extended to September to give more people a chance to submit their views!
What’s the consultation all about?
GWR are consulting on proposals to move ticket office staff into other areas of stations including Penzance.
The proposal for Penzance is to initially reduce the number of ticket office windows this autumn, before a full closure in September 2024. You can read the full proposals on GWR’s website: More time for public to have their say as ticket office consultation deadline extended (gwr.com).
Following feedback from passengers, the rail industry has given more time for the consultation on changes to ticket offices. The consultation will now close on Friday 1 September, 2023.
What are we doing as a council?
At our last Full Council meeting on Monday 17 July, Penzance Councillors unanimously voted to support the retention of the existing staffed ticket office counter service at Penzance Railway Station and objects to the proposed ticket office closure.
They also voted to delegated authority to the Town Clerk to respond to the ongoing consultation on rail ticket office closures, and to communicate the council’s objection to the proposed closure to the management of GWR – you can read the full minutes of the meeting here (Item 39(h) on Page 30).
The staffed ticket office at Penzance railway station provides an invaluable service to residents and visitors alike, especially given the currently bewildering complexity of ticketing arrangements across the rail network. And closing the ticket office windows would disproportionately affect the more vulnerable in our community, especially the digitally excluded.
We will do everything within our power to oppose the closure of the ticket office at Penzance Train Station.
How can you have your say?
If you would like to comment on these proposals, please contact Transport Focus, the independent transport user watchdog. You can do this in a number of ways:
- Online using the consultation response form
- Email – [email protected]
- Sign the petition – located at our council offices in Penlee Park
- By post – Freepost RTEH-XAGE-BYKZ, Transport Focus, PO Box 5594, Southend-on-Sea, SS1 9PZ
Deadline: Friday 1 September 2023
