BIG Cuts Planned In Rail Station Ticket Office Provision
MAJOR reductions in ticket office opening hours at Inverclyde rail stations are being proposed, including closing two offices altogether.
The changes are part of a national review by ScotRail which says that customers are increasingly using online options or ticket vending machines, rather than ticket offices.
There has been a 50 per cent drop in the use of ticket offices over the past 10 years, with the pandemic quickening that pace of change.
The proposals in Inverclyde
Cartsdyke and Woodhall ticket offices would close completely. Cartsdyke currently has a ticket office manned from 6.40am to 1.44pm, Monday to Friday, and 9.20am to 4.28pm on Saturday. Woodhall’s is manned from 7am to 2.04pm, Monday to Saturday.
Gourock’s ticket office hours would change from 5.40am to 11.40pm, Monday to Saturday, to 6.15am to 4.30pm, Monday to Thursday; 6.30am to 7.15pm on Friday; and 7.45am to 6.30pm on Saturday. The Sunday hours would be 9.15am to 2.45pm instead of 8.10am to 11.29pm.
Greenock Central ticket office hours would change from 7.20am to 8.34pm, Monday to Saturday, to 7.30am to 10.45am, Monday to Thursday; 10.15am to 6pm on Friday; and 9.30 to 5.15pm on Saturday. Sunday would be 9.30am to 1.30pm instead of 9.20am to 5.30pm.
Greenock West ticket office hours would change from 6am to five past midnight, Monday to Saturday, to 6am to 6.15pm, Monday to Thursday; 6.15am to 7.15pm on Friday; and 7.45am to 6.30pm on Saturday. Sunday would be 9.45pm to 2.15pm instead of 7.55am to five past midnight.
Port Glasgow would change from 6.15am to midnight, Monday to Saturday, and 7.45am to midnight on Sunday, to 6.30am to 6pm, Monday to Thursday; 6.45am to 7pm on Friday; 8.15am to 7.30pm on Saturday and 11.15am to 1.45pm on Sunday.
Wemyss Bay would change from 6.10am to 11.20pm, Monday to Saturday, and 8.55am to 9.30pm on Sunday, to 6.10am to 12.30pm, Monday to Thursday; 6.10am to 1.30pm on Friday; 7am to 2.30pm on Saturday; and 8.55am to 1.30pm on Sundays.
Transport Focus, the independent watchdog for transport users, is conducting public consultation on behalf of ScotRail seeking the views of customers about the changes.
Phil Campbell, ScotRail head of customer operations, said: “There has been no real review of our ticket office opening hours for 30 years, and it is important we keep up with the changing habits of customers who no longer rely on purchasing tickets in that way.
“Nobody in ScotRail will lose their jobs as a result of these changes, and it is important to note that rather being about cutting jobs, this is about adding value for our staff and customers.”
