Sunday ticket office openings to continue (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Sunday ticket office openings to continue

4:17pm Tuesday 20th January 2009 in News By Chris Wickham

Train users were given a boost this afternoon when it was announced four station ticket offices earmarked for closure on Sundays would now remain open on the Sabbath.

Last week Lord Andrew Adonis, transport minister, told South West Trains (SWT) it could not proceed in full with a plan to reduce ticket office opening hours at 114 stations across the network.

The rail operator has responded to Lord Adonis’ announcement - and the rejection of proposals to reduce hours at offices during times when on average 12 or more tickets are issued hourly - with a new list of opening times and Barnes, Hampton, Hampton Court and Strawberry Hill station ticket offices will continue to open on Sundays as they do now rather than being closed under SWT’s plan.

Plans to slash weekday ticket office opening hours at Hampton and Strawberry Hill stations has also been scrapped as have plans to close the office at Fulwell station on Saturdays and cut opening hours at St Margarets on Sundays.

SWT are still in discussion about when the changes will come into force.