Plans to close West Midlands train ticket offices - full list of 122 stations at risk

Rail operators across the West Midlands have announced plans to scrap the majority train ticket offices at the region’s 122 stations ‘to bring employees out from behind office windows and closer to customers’.

The proposals come as bosses outline how just 12 percent of tickets are sold at ticket offices compared to 82 percent in the 1990s. West Midlands Railway (WMR) joins other rail operators who are set to close ticket offices, with around 1,000 earmarked to close across the country, prompting outrage from the RMT union - which says the announcements are being made amid statutory redundancy notices for hundreds of railway workers.

WMR manages 70 ticket offices in the region and plans to close 64 - with six being converted into retail hubs under the plans. The other 52 rail stations in the region are managed by different train operators - and some of them do not have ticket offices.

In a statement, a spokesman for West Midlands Railway said: “In response to these changing customer habits, alongside other train operators, we are proposing to bring employees out from behind ticket office windows to be closer to customers, providing an enhanced customer service role and greater visibility of staff on concourses and platforms.

“Under these plans ticket offices in their current form would close over the next three years, but we would retain hub stations across the network to facilitate the evolution of retail and the multi-skilling of staff to be available where customers most need them – on platforms and concourses to help with journey planning, finding the right ticket and supporting passengers with accessibility needs.

“Mobile teams would move between stations and would be deployed to offer extra help where needed. Ticket vending machines will be upgraded to make sure customers can still buy the most popular tickets at stations and many staff will have hand-held devices. New customer ‘help’ points would also be introduced at stations as part of the proposals.

“West Midlands Railway recognise the need to safeguard the interests of passengers and other operators; and continue to promote the use of the national rail network.” Rail commuters have until Wednesday, July 26 to comment on plans to axe ticket offices. You can email [email protected].

BirminghamWorld has asked WMR if any rail worker are at risk of redundancy due to the plans. A spokesperson said: “At this stage the proposals are just that - proposals - and a consultation is ongoing, so we are not able to give a figure on possible headcount reduction. If the proposals go ahead our intention is that every staff member who wants to will have the opportunity to retrain to perform the new role.”

General Secretary Mick Lynch said: “The decision to close up to 1,000 ticket offices and to issue hundreds of redundancy notices to staff is a savage attack on railway workers, their families and the travelling public.

“Travellers will be forced to rely on apps and remote mobile teams to be available to assist them rather than having trained staff on stations. This is catastrophic for elderly, disabled and vulnerable passengers trying to access the rail network.

“The arrangements for ticket office opening hours, set out in Schedule 17 of the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement, are the only statutory regulation of station staffing. It is crystal clear that the government and train companies want to tear up this agreement and pave the way for a massive de-staffing of the rail network.

“Some of the train operators issuing our members with statutory redundancy notices today are cutting two thirds of their workforce. It is clear that the whole enterprise of closing ticket offices has got nothing to do with modernisation and is a thinly veiled plan to gut our railways of station staff.

“Fat cat rail operators and the government do not care one jot about passenger safety, or a well-staffed and friendly railway open to all to use. They want to cut costs, make profits for shareholders, and run the network into the ground without a thought as to the vital role the rail industry plays in the country’s economy.

“RMT is mounting a strong industrial, and political campaign to resist ticket office closures and station staff cuts. And we will continue our fight on July 20, 22 and 29 when 20,000 railway workers on the train operators go on strike.” Here’s a full list of railway stations in the West Midlands. You can see full details for the plans for each on at this link from West Midlands Railway here: Train stations in the West Midlands and plans for their ticket offices.

Acocks Green

Adderley Park

Albrighton

Alvechurch

Aston

Barnt Green

Bearley

Bedworth

Berkswell

Bescot Stadium

Bilbrook

Birmingham International

Birmingham Moor St

Birmingham New Street

Birmingham Snow Hill

Blake Street

Blakedown

Bloxwich

Bloxwich North

Bournville

Bromsgrove

Butlers Lane

Canley

Cannock

Chester Road

Claverdon

Codsall

Colwall

Coseley

Cosford

Coventry

Coventry Arena

Cradley Heath

Crewe

Danzey

Dorridge

Droitwich Spa

Duddeston

Dudley Port

Earlswood

Erdington

Five Ways

Four Oaks

Gravelly Hill

Great Malvern

Hagley

Hall Green

Hampstead

Hampton-in-Arden

Hartlebury

Hatton

Hednesford

Henley in Arden

Hereford

Jewellery Quarter

Kenilworth

Kidderminster

Kings Norton

Landywood

Langley Green

Lapworth

Lea Hall

Leamington Spa

Ledbury

Lichfield City

Lichfield Trent Valley

Longbridge

Lye

Malvern Link

Marston Green

Northfield

Nuneaton

Oakengates

Old Hill

Olton

Penkridge

Perry Barr

Redditch

Rowley Regis

Rugeley Town

Rugeley Trent Valley

Sandwell & Dudley

Selly Oak

Shenstone

Shifnal

Shirley

Shrewsbury

Small Heath

Smethwick Galton Bridge

Smethwick Rolfe Street

Solihull

Spring Road

Stafford

Stechford

Stourbridge Junction

Stourbridge Town

Stratford-upon-Avon

Stratford-upon-Avon Parkway

Sutton Coldfield

Tame Bridge Parkway

Telford Central

The Hawthorns

The Lakes

Tile Hill

Tipton

Tyseley

University

Walsall

Warwick

Warwick Parkway

Wellington

Whitlocks End

Widney Manor

Witton

Wolverhampton

Wood End

Wootton Wawen

Worcester Foregate Street

Worcester Shrub Hill

Wylde Green

Wythall

Yardley Wood