Lancaster railway station’s ticket office is under threat of closure as part of proposals by train operator Avanti.
Avanti West Coast has launched a consultation on the future of ticket retailing across their network, as part of plans to modernise customer service.
The company say the proposals mean more face-to-face support would be available across the network to choose the cheapest tickets, advise on journey planning, and support those with accessibility needs.
The proposals, which will be subject to a 21-day public consultation, will see the creation of a new multi-skilled “Customer Ambassador” role to provide advice and support on buying tickets and accessibility needs.
Part of the proposed plans will see the closure of Avanti West Coast ticket offices with a greater proportion of staff in public areas of stations to provide assistance and reassurance to customers. These industry-wide proposals represent the biggest update to customer retailing since 1995.
Back in the mid-1990s, 82% of all tickets were sold at ticket offices, compared to just 12% on average today. This approach follows many other industries who have responded to the changes in customer behaviour, including Transport for London, most airlines and supermarkets.
At some of Avanti West Coast’s managed stations such as Birmingham International, employees already assist customers at ticket vending machines (TVMs) in roles similar to the ones being proposed.
Members of the public are being asked for their views on the consultation – which is being managed by Transport Focus and London TravelWatch – on the suggested plans for ticket retailing at the train operator’s 16 managed stations, as well as its ticket offices at Network Rail stations London Euston, Manchester Piccadilly, Birmingham New Street and Glasgow Central, where Avanti West Coast is the lead retailer.
The proposal is that changes are phased in over three years. To support the transition, ticket offices at these Network Rail stations, as well as Preston and Carlisle, will remain open short-term for customers who have complicated ticket queries which cannot currently be dealt with online or at a TVM.
Alongside the public consultation on ticket offices, a range of options for employees affected will be discussed. These will include moving employees to the new Customer Ambassador role, re-training and re-skilling. Train companies will continue to engage constructively with unions at a local level to manage the outcome of the consultations and any subsequent transition.
Avanti West Coast will also be consulting with its industry leading Facebook accessibility group about the proposals and all its accessibility panels.
Managing Director of Avanti West Coast, Andy Mellors, said: “It is important for the rail industry to change the way it retails tickets as customer behaviour has evolved over the last three decades.
“Our proposals would mean more staff on hand to give face-to-face help with a much wider range of needs, from journey planning, to finding the right ticket and helping those with accessibility needs.
“Our commitment is that we will always treat our people fairly, with support and extra training to move in to new and varied roles with a number of responsibilities without compromising on the safety of them or our customers.
“We also understand that our customers have differing needs which is why we will be consulting with accessibility groups on this consultation.”
The public consultation is being managed by independent rail watchdogs Transport Focus and London TravelWatch.
For more information about how to have their say, passengers should go to www.transportfocus.org.uk
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