Rail companies have announced plans for the closure of the majority of England’s ticket offices, despite concerns being raised by staff, unions and Labour MPs, about the potential impact on disabled and vulnerable passengers. Hull train station has been confirmed as one of the stations proposed for the closure of its ticket office.

The closure of ticket office in Hull and across England, will hit hardest passengers who are older, disabled or need more assistance. The Government and rail companies should be encouraging passengers onto our railways, not making it more difficult for people to access.

And to only have a public consultation period of three weeks for such a massive national change in how our train stations operate is a deliberate attempt to stop the public from having their say. It feels like this is a done deal between the rail company bosses and the Conservatives – using talk of modernisation as a way to cut staff, with no thought of the impact this will have on vulnerable passengers.

The proposals would see mean almost all of the 1,007 remaining ticket offices, bar at the busiest stations, would close within three years.

The consultation will close on 26th July 2023, giving people jus three weeks to respond. Anyone wanting to give their views can do so at TicketOffice.TPE@transportfocus.org.uk.