MARK Jenkinson MP has welcomed news that railway ticket offices across the Workington constituency will remain open.
The Department for Transport has this week told rail operators that their proposals to shut ticket offices did not meet the Government’s high threshold for serving passengers.
The announcement comes after a public consultation launched by rail operators as part of their industry modernisation drive.
Mark Jenkinson MP said: “This Government has shown itself to be attentive to the needs of passengers.
“Throughout this process, ministers have engaged with accessibility groups. They have listened carefully to passengers and to MPs fighting for their communities.
“As soon as I learned of these proposals, I launched a survey so that I could better represent the concerns of my constituents - and I have made extensive representations to Government on their behalf.
“I made it clear that I was deeply concerned about the implications of proposed staffing changes at railway stations – not only for disabled passengers and for those with mobility problems, but also for the elderly and for parents with pushchairs.
“With only 12 per cent of sales at ticket offices, and most purchases made online, I understand the need for modernisation. However, that cannot come at the expense of frontline customer service.
“With no step-free access to either platform at Workington, access to platforms would have been a huge issue if stations were left unstaffed.
“I am delighted that the Government has asked the rail industry to think again.”
