Plans to close hundreds of rail ticket offices in England have been scrapped.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said the government had asked train operators to withdraw their proposals because they failed to meet high passenger standards.
However, a source told the BBC rail bosses were “furious”, saying the original plans had been approved by the Department for Transport.
However, a source told the BBC rail bosses were “furious”, saying the original plans had been approved by the Department for Transport.
The plans were put forward by the rail operators as a move to save money, after coming under pressure from the government to cut costs after being supported heavily during the Covid pandemic.
Train companies said that only 12% of tickets were now bought at station kiosks.
But passenger watchdogs Transport Focus and London Travelwatch objected to the proposals, saying they had received 750,000 responses from individuals and organisations in a public consultation.
These included “powerful and passionate concerns” about the potential changes, they said.
The watchdogs said they had secured “significant” changes, including getting companies to revert to existing times for when staff would available at many stations.
Plans to close hundreds of rail ticket offices in England have been scrapped.
However, a source told the BBC rail bosses were “furious”, saying the original plans had been approved by the Department for Transport.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said the government had asked train operators to withdraw their proposals because they failed to meet high passenger standards.
The plans were put forward by the rail operators as a move to save money, after coming under pressure from the government to cut costs after being supported heavily during the Covid pandemic.
However, a source told the BBC rail bosses were “furious”, saying the original plans had been approved by the Department for Transport.
However, a source told the BBC rail bosses were “furious”, saying the original plans had been approved by the Department for Transport.
The plans were put forward by the rail operators as a move to save money, after coming under pressure from the government to cut costs after being supported heavily during the Covid pandemic.
Train companies said that only 12% of tickets were now bought at station kiosks.
But passenger watchdogs Transport Focus and London Travelwatch objected to the proposals, saying they had received 750,000 responses from individuals and organisations in a public consultation.
These included “powerful and passionate concerns” about the potential changes, they said.
The watchdogs said they had secured “significant” changes, including getting companies to revert to existing times for when staff would available at many stations.
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