Greater Anglia plans to close ticket office at Lowestoft railway station condemned by East Suffolk Council leader

Plans to close the ticket office at Lowestoft railway station have provoked outrage, with the leader of East Suffolk Council speaking out against the move.

Greater Anglia recently announced the plans.

Going forward, customers would be required to buy tickets from the ticket machine, onboard trains, or online prior to their journey.

Between Monday and Saturday, staff would be on-site to assist rail users from 6.30am to 1.30pm.

The changes in Lowestoft are part of a larger wave of closures, with Greater Anglia intending to shut 47 of the 54 ticket offices up and down its line.

Cllr Caroline Topping, the leader of East Suffolk Council, expressed concern over the closure.

She said: “The proposed closure of the ticket office at Lowestoft is extremely worrying. We want to encourage even more people to use trains and buses rather than relying on cars, and having a staffed ticket office is hugely important.

“Ticket office staff provide essential support for those with disabilities and additional needs, as well as providing face-to-face engagement with customers, helping with queries and fares.

“We have numerous regeneration projects underway in Lowestoft, and more in the pipeline. These major projects aim to attract further investment, developing the town into a popular destination to visit and to live.

“Having an efficient, welcoming and high-quality railway station plays an important role in drawing people to the town.

“I personally use the train almost every day, and meet many people coming to the area on holiday and using the rail network.

“We want to make rail travel an easy, attractive and accessible experience, and this starts with retaining the ticket office and the invaluable human contact this provides.

“We will be informing Greater Anglia of our objections, and I would encourage residents to also give their feedback.”

Other figures on East Suffolk Council have condemned the planned closure of the ticket office.

Cllr Peter Byatt, leader of the East Suffolk Labour Group, said: “We are wholly opposed to the closure of railway ticket offices, as they offer a vital service to travellers.

“They provide a safe, central place for advice and assistance, particularly as not everyone is able to use ticket vending machines or online ticketing sites.

“Indeed, we are very concerned that the closure of ticket offices will disproportionately affect disabled and older residents, as well as those with poor literacy and IT skills, or on lower incomes.

“Ticket machines do not provide the many services offered by ticket office staff, such as season ticket changes, Ranger and Rover tickets, providing refunds, Group Save, advance fares, etcetera.

“Furthermore, these machines do not automatically offer passengers the cheapest ticket or explain any restrictions, nor do they take cash.”