Seema Malhotra MP, the Member of Parliament for Feltham and Heston, has launched a petition against the proposed closure of the ticket office at Feltham Rail Station. She will present the petition in Parliament in September.
This proposed change is part of a plan to close almost every ticket office in England, with customers required to purchase tickets online or at a vending machine. Train operating companies are running a consultation on the plan, which was originally 21 days long and due to end on 26th July. Following representations from Malhotra and other MPs, it has now been extended until 1st September. Details of how to view and respond to the proposal can be found at http://southwesternrailway.com/station-change-proposal.
Seema Malhotra has written to South Western Railway expressing her opposition to the ticket office closure after concerns were raised by local residents and MPs in Parliament.
Seema Malhotra said: “I am deeply concerned about the impact of these ticket office closures on rail users who are elderly, disabled or have limited digital access. 23% of disabled adults and 6% of non-disabled adults are unable to use the internet, and only 3% of blind people are able to use ticket vending machine without problems. Important products and services, such as refunds and wheelchair user discounts, will no longer be available at Feltham station due to the closure of the ticket office. This is unfair and exclusionary.”
“I also have serious concerns about the job security of station staff in Feltham. Recent comments from the Rail Minister suggest that these proposals are merely a prelude to job losses in rail stations. I urge South Western Rail, the operator at Feltham, to provide a guarantee that jobs will be protected following these consultations.”
“These proposals must not be implemented until there are answers to serious outstanding questions about the accessibility and job security. Therefore I have launched a petition against the closure.”
You can sign the petition at: http://seemamalhotra.com/ticket-office