Save Durham Station's Ticket Office

You did it! Our petition succeeded.

Durham Liberal Democrats are delighted that the Government has dropped plans to close Durham Rail Station's ticket office.

Cllr Richard Ormerod said: “We are delighted that the Government has seen sense and has now decided to U-turn on these ill-thought-out plans, which would have seen our ticket office in Durham close for good. These plans have amassed a sea storm of objections."

"Many thanks to all who signed the Lib Dem petition," he added. "Rail users in Durham really value the exceptional service provided by the ticket office staff and it has been our contention throughout that these ticket office closures would impact on disabled and elderly users the hardest."

Richard concluded: “The benefit of the human touch for railway users goes well beyond just the sale of tickets. Ticket Office staff are often first-aid trained, provide users with a sense of security and safety when travelling at night, and can also offer a range of ticket fares which often are not available via a ticket machine. Any supposed cost savings by cutting staff could never justify a policy that will worsen passenger service, accessibility, safety, security, and access to rail products. We are celebrating this excellent result today.”

Original Story

Local Liberal Democrats are calling on the Conservative Government and the train operating companies to retain the current service offered by the ticket office at Durham and other railway stations in the United Kingdom.

Campaigner Phil Layton notes, "Elderly and disabled people will be hardest hit. Being able to speak to someone at a ticket office is a vital lifeline for people who struggle with ticket vending machines or need to ask questions about complex journeys; no wonder so many people are concerned about these closures."

Lib Dem Councillor Richard Ormerod represents the Elvet & Gilesgate Division, which includes the train station. He says, “The Lib Dem-run City of Durham Parish Council has objected to the closure. I also asked Amanda Hopgood, Lib Dem Leader of the County Council, what she was doing to help. She confirmed that she had written to LNER calling for the ticket office to be kept open.”