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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Ross Thomson

Lanarkshire MSP slams plans to reduce operating hours at Wishaw and Shotts stations ticket offices

A Lanarkshire Labour MSP is opposing cuts to Wishaw and Shotts train station ticket offices.

Central Scotland MSP Mark Griffin has slammed plans to reduce the operating hours of local railway station ticket offices.

ScotRail is currently consulting on sweeping changes which will see some ticket offices close altogether, with operating hours cut elsewhere.

Critics have argued that this will not only make it less convenient to use the train, but will also pose a potential safety issue.

Under the plans, both Wishaw and Shotts station ticket offices are set to have substantially reduced hours.

Shotts station ticket office will only open between 6.45am and 9.15am Monday to Friday and between 8.15am and 12.30pm on Saturday.

Wishaw’s will close at the earlier time of 7pm Monday to Friday and 6.30pm on Saturday.

Mr Griffin told Lanarkshire Live : “We’ve already seen routes slashed and fares hiked and now ticket offices are being hit.

"We should be encouraging more people to travel by train, not making it harder and less safe to do so.

“ScotRail is due to come into public hands in a matter of months and it appears that the SNP-Green Government are preparing for that by nodding through one round of cuts after another.

“I’d encourage local people, especially those who will be directly affected by the changes, to take part in the consultation and make their views known.”

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