A UNION has hit back at ScotRail plans to close three ticket offices while reducing the hours of 120 more – saying the move will put people at risk.
The proposals come as part of the firm's ticket office consultation, which could result in the first overhaul of the service in three decades.
ScotRail said ticket sales had halved over the past decade with passengers opting to buy online and through vending machines, but promised the move would not result in redundancies.
Manuel Cortes, general secretary of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA), said: "Booking office staff don’t just sell tickets, they help passengers on and off the trains and they keep stations safe for passengers – by salting and gritting platforms at this time of the year and by discouraging anti-social behaviour.
"ScotRail’s plans will make the railways feel less safe, particularly for women, especially in the darker months, and will result in an increase in anti-social behaviour.
Stations losing their ticket offices are Clydebank, Cartsdyke and Woodhall. Hours will be reduced at 120 out of ScotRail's 140 ticket offices.
Abellio will leave train operations in the hands of the Scottish Government this March after criticism saw their contract reaching its conclusion prematurely.
Cortes added: “This is completely the wrong step for growing numbers on Scotland's railway. Closing booking offices and/or reducing their opening hours is a retrograde step.
“They will put people off travelling on Scotland's railways, reducing fares revenue which could be invested in the railway, and cut the services Scottish passengers get."
Phil Campbell, head of customer operations at the rail firm, 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.
"With more than a 50% drop in the use of ticket offices, heightened by the pandemic, we want to do everything we can to make sure everyone has a hassle-free journey."
Campbell said there would be no job losses and the changes were "about adding value for our staff and customers".
ScotRail said the proposed changes would achieve a number of aims, including less fare fraud and ticketless travel, generate and protect more revenue, reduce antisocial behaviour, and decrease carbon emissions by about 102 tonnes each year from less heating and lighting.
And it said the review would not see a change in the number and frequency of services, that there would be a job for anyone in existing station teams who wants one, that customer safety would not be impacted, and passengers with mobility or access needs would continue to be supported.
Transport Focus will be conducting the public consultation from Wednesday on behalf of the rail operator and Robert Samson, stakeholder manager at the watchdog, said: "It's important for people to have their say and we urge people to look at ScotRail's proposals and provide us with comments.
"We will be considering comments from passengers on the changes to inform our response."
ScotRail said the proposed changes would achieve a number of aims, including less fare fraud and ticketless travel, generate and protect more revenue, reduce antisocial behaviour, and decrease carbon emissions by about 102 tonnes each year from less heating and lighting.
And it said the review would not see a change in the number and frequency of services, that there would be a job for anyone in existing station teams who wants one, that customer safety would not be impacted, and passengers with mobility or access needs would continue to be supported.
Phil Campbell, head of customer operations at the rail firm, 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.
"With more than a 50% drop in the use of ticket offices, heightened by the pandemic, we want to do everything we can to make sure everyone has a hassle-free journey."
Campbell said there would be no job losses and the changes were "about adding value for our staff and customers".
Transport Focus will be conducting the public consultation from Wednesday on behalf of the rail operator and Robert Samson, stakeholder manager at the watchdog, said: "It's important for people to have their say and we urge people to look at ScotRail's proposals and provide us with comments.
"We will be considering comments from passengers on the changes to inform our response."
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