Torbay’s MP Kevin Foster has welcomed today’s (Tuesday 31st October) news that proposals for the closure of ticket offices at Paignton and Torquay Train Station have been cancelled.
Whilst transactions from ticket offices have dropped below 15% of ticket sales nationally, the levels of passengers still using a ticket office in our bay is much higher than the national average. At Paignton Station 41.3% of tickets (75,595) were sold at the Ticket Office, compared to 48.2% online (88,341). Ticket office use at Torquay Station is lower than in Paignton, but still higher than many others with 29.4% (37,984) sold from the ticket office, compared to 59.4% (76,612) online. The balance at both stations is sold from the self-service ticket machines. All figures given are for the 2022/23 Financial Year. Torre Station does not have a staffed ticket office.
Following the announcement of the proposed closures of ticket offices at the two stations earlier this year, Kevin worked with Paignton Councillor and Rail Enthusiast John Fellows to collect a petition opposing the closure of Paignton Station’s ticket office, which hundreds of residents rushed to sign. He also spoke out in the House of Commons, demanding any changes at Torquay must be linked to creating indoor facilities on the Up Platform, not just a closure which resulted in passengers and staff needing to use a self-service machine located on the platform, often with the Station’s bin next to it.
Kevin Foster MP said: “Its apt that Halloween has brought news the spectre of closure which had been hanging over Paignton and Torquay Ticket Offices has been cancelled. The way customers use our stations is changing, yet the ticket office at Paignton is not underused and the lack of any alternative indoor passenger facilities at Torquay, left customers and station staff facing the ghoulish prospect of standing on the platform in all weathers to buy a ticket from a machine located next to the station’s bin.”
“I hope what we can now see come forward are clearer plans for how passengers' needs will be incorporated into plans for future ticket sales, including major changes at Torquay Station to provide indoor ticket purchasing facilities on the UP Platform at Torquay Station where virtually all passengers depart from.”.
##ENDS##
Notes to Editors:
- For more information, please contact Kevin Foster on 01803 214 989
- Further Information:
You can read more about Kevin’s campaign on his website by following this link:
Ticket Office Closures Consultation | Kevin Foster MP (kevinjfoster.com)
