South West Trains "using bad weather to justify salami-slicing Elmbridge services" (From Surrey Comet)

South West Trains "using bad weather to justify salami-slicing Elmbridge services"

6:40am Tuesday 9th March 2010

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Train operator South West Trains (SWT) has drawn sharp criticism for its plans to shut ticket offices at quieter train stations during the weekends.

Under proposals launched by SWT last month, customers would no longer be able to buy tickets during the weekend at Thames Ditton or Hinchley Wood.

In a letter to a senior SWT manager, Esher and Walton’s parliamentary candidate, Dominic Raab, said the SWT plans amounted to “salami-slicing” services at Elmbridge’s stations.

Mr Raab said: “This is the latest attempt to reduce the service provided at local stations, and I can see no new reason to justify such a reduction.

“I regularly use local stations in Elmbridge and there are often queues on a Saturday as people buy season tickets or other products that need to be purchased over the counter.”

Ian Johnston, customer service director for SWT, said: “People’s buying habits for rail tickets have changed in the same way as many other products, with more and more customers choosing to make purchases over the phone or via the internet.”

“The recent introduction of Oyster pay-as-you-go on our services in greater London, is also having an effect on buying habits.”

Similar plans to cut back opening hours were given the thumbs down by the Department of Transport two years ago, after they were rejected by passenger watchdog London Travel Watch (LTW).

An LTW spokesman said the group was concerned SWT was using data from January to make the case for the cutbacks, taking advantage of the severe snow disruptions to show that demand for ticket offices had decreased due to the introduction of pay-as-you-go.

The spokesman said: “Ideally, passengers should be able to access train services from a person rather than a machine at a station, but we will wait and see what the response is from passengers.”

The consultation period will last for a month, meaning the changes could take effect as early as April.

What do you think? Will you be affected by the closures? And are you worried about the service from South West Trains? Whatever your view, use the form below to let us know...

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