Peter Taylor writes to Transport Secretary on office closures

Liberal Democrat Mayor Peter Taylor has written to Secretary of State for Transport to oppose plans to close ticket offices across England. 

The government and train operating companies recently announced that ticket offices across the country will be closing. A consultation is currently underway which closes on Wednesday 26 July 2023.

Watford residents will be most affected by changes at Watford Junction station. At that station, the ticket office will be closing to be replaced by a customer service "hub". Cllr Ian Stotesbury is worried that this is just the first step to removing ticket support completely.

In his letter, Peter Taylor said:

"Our current ticketing system in this country is still too confusing, and for many people, ticket machines are difficult to navigate. Additionally, Watford sees many tourists who stay in our town and then use our rail stations to visit London or other parts of the UK. Thousands of people travel through Watford Junction station each week as they visit the popular Warner Brothers tour.

"Many people struggle to use our ticket machines and need support. Until a more user-friendly and efficient ticketing solution is implemented, we must prioritize the needs of all passengers and stop these closures."

You can read the full letter here.