Plans to close hundreds of ticket offices across the country have been withdrawn following widespread public backlash. 

The proposals were brought forward by train operators. The Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed that it has asked these operators to withdraw their plans. 

With the proposals scrapped, ticket offices at the following Stockport stations have been saved: Bramhall, Bredbury, Brinnington, Cheadle Hulme, Davenport, Gatley, Hazel Grove, Heaton Chapel, Marple, Reddish North, Romiley, Rose Hill, Stockport and Woodsmoor.

Transport Focus said it had received over 750,000 responses from individuals and organisations in a public consultation.

99% of these responses were objections, according to the passenger watchdogs.

REACTION

A spokesperson for Transport for the North said: "We are pleased that plans to close ticket offices are not being taken forward.

"As today's report from Transport Focus clearly shows, withdrawing ticket office staff would leave passengers very disadvantaged and would be a barrier to people using the railway.

"The way that people buy their tickets is changing, and we need to take account of that, but the presence of staff is about so much more than simply retailing tickets.

"They are a human point of contact, including helping passengers who might need assistance or providing reassurance for those who might be wary of travelling alone.

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Navendu Mishra, MP for Stockport, said: "Scrapping the plans to close all railway ticket offices is the right move. These closure plans would have been bad for passengers and staff."

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Cllr David Meller, leader of Stockport Labour Group, said: "I am absolutely delighted that the government has finally seen sense and asked for these proposals to be taken off the table. It is ridiculous that they were even suggested in the first place.

"Since the closure of the sixteen ticket offices across Stockport was first announced, Stockport Labour has campaigned alongside residents, station staff as well as the RMT and TSSA unions to ensure that they stay open.

"Losing ticket offices across the whole of Stockport would have had a particularly damaging consequences for elderly and disabled people and unattended stations are less safe for everybody.

"I'm glad sense has prevailed here. I want to thank everyone who has contributed to our campaign and those run by trade unions."

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Cllr Lisa Smart, Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Hazel Grove, said: "Hundreds if not thousands of people from across Hazel Grove constituency were part of the massive upswell of opinion that has delivered this U-turn, and it is a great achievement for everyone who was part of it.

"The Conservative Government tried to force through these closures, and this is a clear indication of how out of step they are with people. This would have removed much-needed support at stations at a time when we should be striving to improve public transport.

"This shows that people can stand up and stop poor decisions from being taken. We need MPs who stand up for people with disabilities, who make it easier for people to use public transport, and who choose fairness instead of cutting costs."

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Cllr Matt Wynne, leader of Edgeley Community Association, said: "I'm glad to hear these proposals have been dropped. They have caused unnecessary distress to railway workers and Edgeley residents who commute and use the railways regularly particularly those who are vulnerable.

"It says a lot that nearly a million people took the time to formally object to this plan. Central government needs to get on with providing sufficient rolling stock for services and introducing a London style contactless system of payment instead of harebrained rinse and repeat proposals like this that seek to run the railways on the cheap whilst subjecting folk to extortionate fares in return for a poor service."

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