CONSULTATION EXTENDED: have your say on Tory ticket office closures

6th July, 2023

I visited Bowes Park Station together with Guide Dogs for the Blind and Network Rail to discuss the importance of station accessibility for blind and visually impaired people. Research by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has found that only 3% of people with sight loss said they could use a ticket vending machine without problems and 58% said it was impossible.

For years now the Tories have been running down our rail network. Yesterday’s plans to close ticket offices including at our local stations in Alexandra Palace, Bowes Park, Hornsey, Harringay, Finsbury Park and up and down the country, replacing them with “ticket assistance” are a disaster for older and disabled customers, for safety, and for staff.

I’ve already responded to the public consultation and you can read by letter to the Transport Secretary Mark Harper below. With just 21 days to have your say, it’s really important you make your voice heard.

Links to the Great Northern consultation here which includes our local stations Alexandra Palace, Bowes Park, Hornsey as well as those well used by local residents such as Harringay and Finsbury Park: https://www.greatnorthernrail.com/publicconsultation

On 13 July, I received a response from the Transport Minister. You can read a copy of it here.