5:38pm Tuesday 31st August 2010
By Jonathan Portlock
South West Trains has ruled out introducing more ticket machines at Claygate station, despite more commuter chaos this week.
There is currently only one machine at the station, but it was out of service on Sunday, August 29, and again until after the rush hour on Tuesday, August 31.
Some passengers missed their trains on Tuesday morning because of the long queue at the one ticket booth, which was also closed throughout Sunday.
Last year, SWT stakeholder manager Phil Dominey promised an audience of Elmbridge councillors more ticket machines would be added to the station in the autumn of 2009.
The company is trying to encourage more people to use ticket machines because it wants to close ticket booths to save money.
However, SWT told the Elmbridge Guardian it had gone back on Mr Dominey’s promise because there was no need for more than one machine at the station.
A spokesman said: “We believe the combination of the ticket office and ticket machine at Claygate station matches current passenger demand and we therefore have no plans to make any further changes to ticket buying facilities at this station.
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the problems with the ticket machine at Claygate station on Tuesday morning.”
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