After a campaign organised by the Labour Party, the Government have announced that it has instructed train operators to retain their ticket offices following significant objections from passengers. 

Crawley Labour party ran an innovative campaign at Three Bridges and Crawley stations designed to make passengers aware that the railway operators were intending to close ticket offices, using information leaflets designed to look like train tickets, and welcome this decision.

The Labour campaign talked to hundreds of train passengers and found that most were surprised to hear of these plans. And those that knew about them were not happy with the potential consequences for passengers. These included potential difficulties getting a ticket using the automated machines, challenges getting the ticket with the right price and lack of help for wheelchair and other users with special needs.

Cllr Peter Lamb former Labour Leader of Crawley Borough Council and Prospective Parliamentary candidate for Labour in Crawley said:

“This ticket office closure plan was being forced on the railway operators by this out of touch Tory government who seem to be only interested in cutting costs irrespective of the consequences for customers. 

“We in Crawley Labour were quick to bring the consequences of this short-sighted plan to the attention of local commuters and passengers, a large number of whom subsequently sent their objections in response to the train operators survey. 

“We continue to put train passengers and their safety first and are pleased that our Labour led campaign has had a successful conclusion.”