Rail passengers have reacted to 'scandalous' and controversial proposals to close the ticket office at Manchester Piccadilly train station.
Manchester Piccadilly's ticket office has been earmarked to shut under new mass closure plans across England announced on Wednesday (July 5).
Avanti West Coast, which runs services to London Euston from Manchester Piccadilly, confirmed a consultation will take place to see phased changes over three years at ticket offices at Network Rail stations where it is the lead retailer, including Manchester Piccadilly.
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Rail operator Northern has also confirmed plans to close manned ticket offices at 45 stations across Greater Manchester, although they will be retained at six other stations.
Manchester Piccadilly is Manchester's busiest railway station and the news of the possible ticket office closure has left rail passengers angry at the 'scandalous' plans.
The RMT union, which has been striking since last June, has warned it would 'bring into effect the full industrial force of the union' to stop any potential closures.
@kevin_hoare tweeted: "We had our train to York cancelled yesterday and without that ticket office at Piccadilly would of had no idea what to do. Scandalous."
As @premraghvani said: "So you're telling me, Manchester Piccadilly, the north's busiest station, with barriers, may have the ticket office closed? & it's easier to buy certain tickets from Manchester Victoria instead, a mile away? what is this country?!"
@rmtmansouth added: "It is always busy, is currently understaffed for the demand it faces. And if that wasn't enough of a slap in the face they are reducing the hours of support available."
@OliverBall31 posted: "They can’t close Piccadilly surely! The impact it would have would be massive!" and @JenOnTheMoveUK said: "There is a pretty much all day long queue out of the door at that ticket office. Can anyone legitimately tell me that these plans are sensible?"
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Elsewhere in the region, ticket offices at Bolton, Manchester Victoria, Manchester Oxford Road, Rochdale, Salford Crescent and Wigan Wallgate stations would remain open, said Northern, but they will have reduced opening times.
Meanwhile, Avanti West Coast said 'customer ambassador' roles would be created. "Part of the proposed plans will see the closure of Avanti West Coast ticket offices with a greater proportion of staff in public areas of stations to provide assistance and reassurance to customers," said an Avanti statement. "These industry-wide proposals represent the biggest update to customer retailing since 1995."
General secretary Mick Lynch described the closure policy as 'a savage attack on railway workers, their families and the travelling public'.
Under Avanti's new proposals, the ticket office at Manchester Piccadilly will be closed, but there will be ticketing support available for customers.
