Welwyn Hatfield rail station ticket offices “will not be closing”

THE operator in charge of train services through Welwyn Hatfield has “absolutely no plans” to shut rail station ticket offices – despite a Government report proposing widespread closures.

First Capital Connect was responding to claims by transport union Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA), that a Government-commisioned report by Sir Roy McNulty had earmarked 675 ticket offices across England and Wales for closure to save cash.

Brookmans Park, Welham Green, Welwyn North and Knebworth all appeared in the list, which has appeared in newspapers across the country since its publication.

Should the report be green lighted, one in four stations would be left unmanned, and customers would have to buy more expensive tickets from machines, TSSA leader Gerry Doherty claimed.

But a First Capital Connect spokesman told the Welwyn Hatfield Times that ticket offices were safe.

“We have absolutely no plans to close any ticket offices,” he said.

“The press articles refer to the McNulty Review which provides wide-ranging recommendations to the Government to examine the opportunities and barriers to improve the value for money of rail for taxpayers, passengers and freight customers.

“The Government is likely to further discuss the McNulty Review in the coming months.”