Speaking up for rail ticket offices
Proposals by train operators to close the majority of ticket offices in England have been met with widespread opposition. Read our update on our campaigning.
The Department for Transport must act now
RNIB has written to the Transport Secretary, Mark Harper, along with 9 other charities representing blind and partially sighted people. We requested an urgent meeting to discuss the hugely negative impact that closures of almost all train ticket offices in England would have. We have since taken part in a meeting between disability charities and the Rail Minister, Huw Merriman, where we explained the many reasons why blind and partially sighted people are objecting to these proposals.
Take action: respond to the consultation
We’re asking for as many people as possible to respond to the consultation on the proposed changes by the end of Wednesday 26 July, making clear how important ticket offices are for independent travel.
Update: the consultation has been extended until 1 September by the Rail Delivery Group, following widespread campaigning against the proposals and the short consultation period.
Find out how to respond to the consultation on ticket offices.
Speak up on social media
Alongside Guide Dogs, we’re asking people to post on Twitter and Facebook about why ticket offices are important to them, using the hashtag #INeedATicketOffice. You can join in by following these three simple steps:
- Post the sentence “I need a ticket office so I can…” followed by your reasons for needing ticket offices.
- Remember to use #INeedATicketOffice.
- Let us know by including @RNIB and @gdcampaigns on Twitter, or @RNIB and @GuideDogsUK on Facebook.
Making the news
There’s been lots of national and local media coverage since train operators announced their proposals to close ticket offices. We’ve been doing everything we can to speak up, including interviews with BBC News, Sky News, a letter in the Telegraph by our Chief Executive Matt Stringer, and our Policy Officer Erik Matthies joining the BBC Breakfast sofa.
