Public consultation for mass ticket office closures at train stations end today.

South Western Railway (SWR) proposed to 153 of its 190 ticket offices on 5 July, claiming the plans were part of "modernis[ing]" the the railway.

Teddington station would no longer be staffed on a Sunday or Monday, but would have slightly longer staffing hours Tuesday-Saturday.

SWR have assigned Teddington to Category 3 as part of their 'strategic approach', meaning staffing will be reduced to one person between the set times.

Rather than ticket offices, the SWR's proposal is to create a single team of colleagues at each station, working together to help customers with their train journeys.

Many will be reduced to a single member of staff or lose them completely on some days in a blow to vulnerable travellers, including women and school children.

Ruils, which is the lead borough charity supporting disabled children and adults, as well as those with long term health and mental health conditions, has urged people to lodge a formal objection.

It said: "Closing ticket offices will have a massive detrimental impact on disabled people who need assistance to access transport.

"Disabled passengers already face significant barriers in accessing public transport and closing ticket offices, and "redeploying staff" will take away key allies who are there to provide personalised support.

SWR said the change would include: "more face-to-face support for customers, greater visibility of colleagues throughout stations, and a higher proportion of colleagues trained to support customers with their retail choices."

Due to generational shift towards digital technology and customer behaviours, SWR said the proposals were part of the train industry's attempt at updating customer experience.

The train company cited 75% of SWR passenger journeys are already made using smart cards and eTickets, and stated the vast majority of ticket types are already available via smart media, online or at ticket vending machines

Of the 12% of tickets bought at ticket offices nation-wide last year, SWR estimated 99% could have been bought using a ticket vending machine or online.

A statement from SWR said: "We will continue to meet all our commitments on providing accessibility for passengers, including passengers with reduced mobility and people requiring in‑person assistance."

Full details of the proposals can be found here.

Have your say in the consultation by emailing: [email protected]

For more information how to have your say, contact: https://www.transportforall.org.uk/campaign/ticket-office-closures/take-action/