Sussex MP says railway ticket office closure U-turn is 'good win for people power and common sense'

Rail companies had intended to shut almost all of England's 1,007 railway station ticket offices. It was a proposal that sparked fury among passengers – particularly the elderly and disabled – as well as unions and charities.

On Tuesday (October 31), transport secretary Mark Harper said the UK Government has asked train operators to withdraw their proposals.

Among those to campaign against the plans was Tim Loughton, MP for East Worthing and Shoreham.

Following the U-turn news, Mr Loughton wrote: “Great news that the government has listened to the consultation and views of 750k people who want to keep train ticket offices open as we have been campaigning for in East Worthing & Shoreham. Train operators told to scrap proposal. Good win for people power and common sense.”

Local groups of blind and partially sighted (BPS) people are also welcoming the decision. It comes after they launched a joint campaign with national sight loss charity Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT).

They are also calling for a government strategy to immediately tackle wider accessibility issues raised as part of the consultation.

Sight Loss Councils, funded by TPT, are local groups led by blind and partially sighted volunteers. Together they work with organisations to ensure what they do is accessible and inclusive.