Lockerbie and Stranraer train stations could see ticket office hours changed

ScotRail is proposing to alter ticket office opening hours at Lockerbie and Stranraer stations.

The company runs more than 2,000 services through 359 stations of which 143 have manned ticket offices.

It is reviewing opening hours which have been largely unchanged since the 1990s.

According to ScotRail a large number of rail users now book their seats online or through vending machines and it wants to “align ticket office hours with customer usage” with no job losses proposed.

Currently Lockerbie Station’s ticket office opens from 7.35am to 8.45pm Monday to Saturday, and 2.50pm to 10.20pm on Sundays.

The proposed changes would see it open earlier at 7am Monday to Saturday and close earlier by 25 minutes at 8.20pm.

On Sunday’s it could open earlier at 10.10am and close earlier at 5.50pm.

ScotRail’s figures show that the average number of tickets sold at Lockerbie during the weekend is 682.

In Stranraer – which sells an average 159 tickets at the weekend – the station ticket office hours would change from the current daily 9.30am to 7pm to the reduced 10am to 11.30am Monday to Thursday, 10am to 3pm Fridays, 10am to 11.45am Saturdays, and 9.30am to 11.15 on Sundays.

The figures relating to Dumfries show that, on average, each weekend it sells 1,514 tickets.

A consultation period lasting 21 days began on Wednesday and public feedback can be given by either writing to Transport Focus Freepost, PO Box 5594, Southend on Sea, SS1 9PZ or by email to: schedule17.sr@transportfocus.org.uk.

Robert Samson, stakeholder manager at the independent watchdog Transport Focus, said: “It’s important for people to have their say and we urge them to look at ScotRail’s proposals and provide us with comments.

“We will be considering comments from passengers on the changes to inform our response.”

South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has hit out at the plans and said that prior to the pandemic Lockerbie Station opened at 6.45am to serve commuters catching trains that leave the station just after 7am.

Mr Smyth said: “Once again rail passengers are being left with a second-rate service. Routes are being slashed, fares are being hiked and now ticket desks are being shut.

“Whatever ScotRail might say, these cuts will hit passengers, threaten jobs and undermine station safety. We won’t get people back on trains by cutting rail services to the bone.”