Skip to main content
Gifts from The Morning Star
Rail ticket office closures – yet more managed decline of our public services
The government’s goal is to cut staff and maximise profits at the expense of those who most rely on public transport, argues CLAUDIA WEBBE MP
An RMT member campaigning against ticket office closures

DESPITE some rumoured wavering among some train companies, the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) and the government are pushing ahead with their plan to close down almost every station ticket office — over 1,000 in all — in a demonstration of corporate and governmental contempt for the wishes and wellbeing of passengers, especially vulnerable travellers.

Rail unions have seen huge support from the public in their campaign to prevent the closures that will surely have been reflected in responses to the consultation, but the government’s readiness to enable privateers to fatten profits over the wellbeing of the public is well known, despite a large majority of the public favouring the renationalisation of public services, including two thirds for rail.

The privatisation of the British rail industry has been a source of contention since its implementation in the 1990s. The closure of railway ticket offices is yet another example of this managed decline away from public ownership and accountability of our public services.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Similar stories
Wes Streeting gives a speech at the Fabian Society
Features / 10 February 2025
10 February 2025
The Labour Party, once the proud architect of our health service, has become its undertaker, argues CLAUDIA WEBBE
Voices of Scotland / 8 December 2024
8 December 2024
Despite promises of a new era under state control, the SNP government backs massive cuts to ticket office hours while ignoring safety concerns and excluding disabled passengers from consultation, writes ANN HENDERSON
Britain / 1 November 2024
1 November 2024