Full list of every railway station ticket office in Coventry and Warwickshire set to be axed...

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New modernisation plans have been revealed today



A list reveals every railway station ticket office in Coventry and Warwickshire that are due to be closed under new modernisation plans. The proposals have been revealed by West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway today (July 5) as part of what they say are plans to close ticket offices that are not used, and bring staff out from behind the counters to help rail users.

In the plans, Coventry's Canley and Tile Hill ticket offices are set to close as is Stratford in Warwickshire.

Nuneaton Railway Station's ticket office is one of the very few to have been spared the axe. This will is set to become one of just four London Northwestern Railway hubs offering enhanced retail facilities and customer support.

Coventry Arena does not have a ticket office, neither does Bedworth or Bermuda, but the plans are to bring in 'an enhanced staff presence; at these two stations. Staff from new mobile teams will be sent here, on a 'flexible basis' to undertake customer service, passenger assistance, safety and general upkeep duties.

This is the same situation for Henley-in-Arden station as well as Stratford-upon-Avon Parkway.

Rail bosses say that there has been a huge shift in the way people buy tickets and the use of ticket offices has fallen from 82 per cent to 12 per cent over the past 30 year. The closures are set to be made over the next three years but before they come into force, a public consultation is being held into the proposals.

In a statement, Ian McConnell, managing director of West Midlands Railway, said: "We need to evolve with our customers, as well as creating a more sustainable railway that’s fit for the future.

“Our proposals would mean staff being more visible and available where customers most need them; on concourses and platforms to help with journey planning, finding the right ticket and supporting passengers with accessibility needs.

“We understand that some customers have complex needs and some are less comfortable using digital technology. That’s why we will be consulting widely with relevant groups and looking at ways of supporting all our customers to ensure that no-one is left behind.”

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12% is still a lot of business. I hope they've thought this through, though I doubt it.

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Fears plans to close train station ticket offices will make railways 'less safe'



Fears have been raised that plans to close railway station ticket offices will make railways 'less safe and accessible'. Coventry North West MP Taiwo Owatemi has spoken out against the plans.

Tile Hill and Canley Stations are affected under the plans by West Midlands Railway. And it's emerged that Coventry railway station will also be affected under separate plans by Avanti West Coast.

Ms Owatemi has written to the Transport Secretary about the closures to ticket offices at Coventry, Tile Hill and Canley stations due to concerns that the closures could make the railway 'less safe and accessible' and especially impact 'disabled, elderly and vulnerable passengers.'

Taiwo has also written to Avanti West Coast and West Midlands Trains to express her concerns.

Her letter to the Managing Director of Avanti, Andy Mellows, says: "On the 5th July, Rail Delivery Group confirmed plans to move staff out of ticket offices and into stations, with the consultation on these significant changes to last just 21 days.

"That news will be deeply worrying to my elderly and disabled constituents, the hundreds and thousands of people employed in our rail industry, the staff employed, and all those who rely on the support and advice provided by staff in ticket offices."

"Given the fact that many of those passengers relying on ticket offices will be elderly and disabled rail users that may otherwise struggle to use digital alternatives, it is vital that you offer assurances that those rail users will still have access to the support they need to use our rail network with confidence."

Ms Owatemi says that passengers in Coventry are 'already suffering due to the chaos' on the railways and urges the importance that staff have 'clarity about their job security and that vulnerable passengers are 'not forgotten about' as changes are made to the way railway stations operate.

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Ticket offices in Coventry and Warwickshire spared the axe after government scraps plans



Plans to shut ticket offices across the UK - including several in Coventry and Warwickshire - have been scrapped in a dramatic u-turn. A number of people, including Coventry’s MPs spoke out against the plans when they were unveiled earlier this year over concerns that it would disproportionately affect vulnerable or disabled passengers.

West Midlands Trains had announced plans to close ticket offices at Canley, Tile Hill and Stratford train stations. Avanti West Coast also proposed to close the ticket office at Coventry Railway Station.

Coventry Arena, Bedworth and Bermuda do not have ticket offices currently and Nuneaton was one of the stations where the ticket office was spared the axe under the plans.

But this morning (31) it’s been announced that the government is scrapping the proposals, the Mirror reports. Rail firms had drawn up proposals to shut ticket counters at 974 railway stations across England.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “The consultation on ticket offices has now ended, with the Government making clear to the rail industry throughout the process that any resulting proposals must meet a high threshold of serving passengers.

“We have engaged with accessibility groups throughout this process and listened carefully to passengers as well as my colleagues in Parliament. The proposals that have resulted from this process do not meet the high thresholds set by Ministers, and so the Government has asked train operators to withdraw their proposals."