Guildford’s rail users have made their voices heard as the government announces that ticket offices will remain open.
Angela Richardson MP welcomes the government’s withdrawal of its proposals to close railway ticket offices, following a public consultation, in what she sees as a victory for Guildford residents who raised concerns about this.
On 31st October, Mark Harper, the Secretary of State for Transport, and Huw Merriman, Minister of State for Rail, announced that plans to close ticket offices would be withdrawn after it became clear during the consultation that the proposals did not guarantee the highest quality of service for rail users.
In July 2023, Angela wrote to Transport Focus to convey concerns from constituents who expressed their desire for ticket offices to remain open.
The stations that the proposals would have impacted include Guildford, London Road (Guildford), Worplesdon, Clandon, Horsley and Effingham Junction. The plans would have reduced the working hours of some of these local train stations.
Angela Richardson, Member of Parliament for Guildford, said:
“It is fantastic that Guildford’s rail users have had their concerns listened to by the government and that the proposals to close ticket offices are not going ahead.
“Now that the proposed reduction in hours in local stations is not happening, rail users can be assured that the purchase of all types of tickets, including those that are less common, will remain unaffected, and ticket office attendants can continue to offer advice to rail users on the time and route validity of tickets.
“I would like to thank everyone in Guildford and our villages who submitted their comments on South Western Railway’s ticket proposals to Transport Focus.
“The government continues to work to ensure the railways are modernised in Guildford and across the country. I am pleased that the Department for Transport are meeting operators to take forward positive reforms, such as simplified and Pay As You Go ticketing, and through our Access for All programme.”