Edsmith
Member
Is it any different in any other countries? There seems to be far more unstaffed stations in mainland Europe than here in the UK?Another backward step by the UK, why is everything about cutting in this country.
Is it any different in any other countries? There seems to be far more unstaffed stations in mainland Europe than here in the UK?Another backward step by the UK, why is everything about cutting in this country.
Another backward step by the UK, why is everything about cutting in this country.
what interim steps need to be taken to ensure a very small percentage of edge cases are still catered for or supported on to the replacement ticketing methods.
Which seems to sum up how this country as a whole is progressing - low wage, low skill, low qualification. Then we wonder why nothing in this country seems to function properly.
The first post in this thread has links to the relevant information on each TOC's website. Some are more detailed than others.Despite word of these proposals I cannot find anywhere on the Internet any document detailing this scheme.
Despite word of these proposals I cannot find anywhere on the Internet any document detailing this scheme.
Because the industry has presumably realised that these things need to be regularly reviewed, and not just in "big hits" like now.Why are these only interim measures?
Correct, from reading the proposals platform staffing is completely out of scope.
Except that isn't true - there are high-wage, high skill jobs - lots of them in fact. However, selling rail tickets isn't one of them, nor is selling you a cup of coffee or a newspaper, so there will always be some 'low skill, low wage' jobs.
Not accurate. It isn't in the public proposals but for example EMR have advised the On Train staff of their intention to consult on the extension of guard self dispatch of trains to nearly all locations, for example, amongst other changes.
It's not something the public will see as they're not entitled to be consulted on it, but the proposals will almost definitely exist elsewhere.
I didn't find that at all while interailing in France and Italy this year. As a visitor I used the ticket offices a number of times for information. Same for Portugal.Is it any different in any other countries? There seems to be far more unstaffed stations in mainland Europe than here in the UK?
Not sure where your statistics come fromWhy ? Only about 10% of ticket sales are now made by ticket offices.
90% are using pre-bought tickets online or using at station machines.
Bank branches closing is another matter, not everyone wants to use apps. Generally when banks close, towns go down hill too and become more desolate than many already are. Sometimes its just easier speaking to a "real" person rather than looking at the never relevant FAQ. This goes for rail ticket offices.Why ? Only about 10% of ticket sales are now made by ticket offices.
90% are using pre-bought tickets online or using at station machines.
The way people buy tickets has changed, the rail industry are now, belatedly, catching up with that and restructuring to support it. It's the same with bank branches, so few people are using some of them it's a waste of resource to keep them open.
And where ticket offices are a rarity, eg Austria, the fares structure is generally simpler and the TVMs have greater functionality.I didn't find that at all while interailing in France and Italy this year. As a visitor I used the ticket offices a number of times for information
That's because RDG aren't consulting. As per the TSA, Transport Focus (or London Travel Watch in London) are running the consultations. The local TOC pages are much more usefulThe (not-very-well-publicised) RDG consultation page:
https://www.raildeliverygroup.com/u...focused-reform/customer-focused-stations.html
fares are not simple here at all.And where ticket offices are a rarity, eg Austria, the fares structure is generally simpler and the TVMs have greater functionality.
Fare enough. I only travel by train in Austria a few times a year, and I'm just really quoting from friends who live there who say fares are simpler than the UK. Obviously if you have greater knowledge I'll bow to that.fares are not simple here at all.
I had a glimpse through the list of tickets sold at some GWR outlets and noticed just how few rovers and rangers were sold which actually surprised me. Whilst enthusiasts obviously buy them I don't think the general public are as aware of them now as they once where. I recall in the 1970s they were actively promoted by leaflets and posters, that's how I first became aware of them as a teenager.GWR very helpfully provide some enlightening statistics about what is actually being sold at each of their stations. Although a shame for some, it does seem to indicate that products like Rangers and Rovers just add an unnecessary complication to an already crowded ticketing system and in the wider scheme of things, their loss would be extremely insignificant. If there is a genuine business case or need for these sorts of products, the industry will make them 'smart' or like Northern, find a way to retail them without the need for staff assistance.
fares are not simple here at all.
Because some TOCs are keeping ticket offices. Avanti aren't.Why is Rail Delivery Group suggesting to the media that "some ticket kiosks would remain in large stations" (BBC) if, as Avanti's proposals suggest, the aim is to close all ticket offices?
Why is Rail Delivery Group suggesting to the media that "some ticket kiosks would remain in large stations" (BBC) if, as Avanti's proposals suggest, the aim is to close all ticket offices?
That's because RDG aren't consulting. As per the TSA, Transport Focus (or London Travel Watch in London) are running the consultations. The local TOC pages are much more useful
Will WHSmith or Costa decide to go into ticket retailing?! Or should I!?!?
There's a general lack of awareness of rail rovers even among railway staff. The TOCs reportedly don't like them. I expect they will eventually (or soon) go (except for Wales and Scotland) as yet another item on the list designed to make rail travel less attractive.I had a glimpse through the list of tickets sold at some GWR outlets and noticed just how few rovers and rangers were sold which actually surprised me. Whilst enthusiasts obviously buy them I don't think the general public are as aware of them now as they once where. I recall in the 1970s they were actively promoted by leaflets and posters, that's how I first became aware of them as a teenager.
Even for the non-enthusiast used intelligently rovers in particular can save quite a lot of cash and offer flexibility of travel which advance tickets can't. They do need a lot more promotion.
Some Rovers and Rangers can be bought on line. I have had a Devon and Cornwall 3 in 7 day from GWR bought on line and posted to me and though quickly delivered one can't really do it at a spare of the moment decision.
Other Rovers cant Explore Wales Rover has to be bought at a ticket office.
It would be a great shame if Rovers came to an end as a result of these changes. I for one have only recently returned to the main network in the last couple of years after several decades absence. If they did disappear it would be back to the car again.
I had a glimpse through the list of tickets sold at some GWR outlets and noticed just how few rovers and rangers were sold which actually surprised me. Whilst enthusiasts obviously buy them I don't think the general public are as aware of them now as they once where.
That is exactly what Transport for Wales have done in the Valleys, even with Advances.If it wasn't so horribly complex there'd be a case for PayPoint/PayZone doing it. That's open up every single corner shop (pretty much) as a booking office.
Just been looking through my local one, GWR and surprisingly some stations are still over 30% cash rather than card sales. Particularly in holiday areas.
Also appears there are stations like Evesham with over 20% using cash rather than card, but with card only TVMs, presumably that means the 20%+ won't be able to buy tickets before boarding
Also get Stations eg Dawlish, where only 40% of journeys booked online, and other 60% are walk up, bought at station, but just a single TVM
Some eg Bristol Temple Meads are showing the ticket office as reduced windows, but then show complete closure late 2024 further down the page
Document is long, and gives breakdowns for one station per page
without wishing to veer too off topic, this is not a great comparison, as branch closures came about much more naturally. Online/phone/app banking is genuinely seamless and easy to use, so unless you need to deal with cash then realistically you don't need a branch (to the point where some of the challenger banks never bothered to open any). The Post Office and PayPoint banking schemes fill a lot of the gaps.It's the same with bank branches, so few people are using some of them it's a waste of resource to keep them open.