Plans have been announced by rail companies to close more than 1000 ticket offices at train stations across the country.

In our borough, only St Helens Central would retain a ticket office – every single other office would close: Earlestown, Eccleston Park, Garswood, Newton-le-Willows, Rainhill, St Helens Junction, Thatto Heath, and Lea Green which is only just being rebuilt!

We believe these plans are an attack on passengers and rail staff, and will result in poorer service and standards.

If you agree, join our fight today:

Objecting to the plans, Councillor Seve Gomez-Aspron MBE, Deputy Leader of St Helens Borough Council and Cabinet Member for Strategic Transport, said: “Public and passenger reassurance is heavily reliant on a public facing member of staff, particularly the elderly and people with disabilities and mobility issues, so to close all but one ticket office here has the potential to take away the independence of a large number of residents who rely on public transport. 

“They’ve closed the ticket offices in most cases before the consultation period has even started. And it’s not down to austerity or budget cuts, it’s down to profiteering on behalf of privately owned franchise operators. 

 “As a council, we recognise the significant influence our borough has played throughout history – arguably being the birthplace of the railway -which is why we have successfully lobbied for improvements in our infrastructure, resulting in state-of-the-art stations at Newton-le-Willows and Lea Green which is being built now with a ticket office that will never open. 

“We call on the government to reconsider these unpopular plans and would urge residents to take part in the consultation to make their feelings known too.” 

Labour will submit a motion on the matter at the next St Helens Borough Council full council meeting to allow the Council to respond within the 21 day consultation period.