Hyndburn Council urged to fight Accrington rail ticket office closure

Labour says the ticket office provides a vital service

A council is being urged to campaign against the proposed closure of the ticket office at a town's rail station.

The opposition Labour group on Hyndburn Council is calling for the council to oppose plans to shut the office at Accrington station.

The group says the office provides a vital service especially to people with no internet access.

Hyndburn Council's Tory leader, Marlene Haworth, declined to comment on the motion.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service writes that in July train operator Northern announced plans to close the office at Accrington station.

Across the rest of Lancashire only Blackburn and Blackpool North ticket offices have survived a national cull of ticket offices.

Barnfield Labour councillor Mike Booth has submitted a motion to Hyndburn full council on Thursday calling for action to try and halt the move.

It is seconded by borough Labour group leader Munsif Dad.

The motion says the council should write to the secretary of state for transport, Northern Rail and the Rail Delivery Group chief executive to oppose the closure, "to preserve this vital facility for the benefit of our community".

The motion adds: "It is more than just a ticket office."

It says the office closure would create potential barriers for passengers with limited access to online ticketing or technological resources.

The motion also says the ticket office has been a symbol of community engagement, fostering a sense of safety and security for travellers.

A spokesperson for Northern Rail said in July that tickets for only one in six journeys are bought at a ticket office.

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