Winchester avoids ticket office cuts (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Winchester avoids ticket office cuts

9:10am Wednesday 8th September 2010 in

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RAIL bosses have said Winchester Station will be spared as ticket office opening hours are cut back across the network.

South West Trains plans to reduce the opening hours at a series of stations across the region, including some in Hampshire.

But they announced this week that Winchester would not be one of them.

At present, the sales kiosks open from 6am to 8.30pm on weekdays, 6am to 7.30pm on Saturdays and 7am to 8.30pm on Sundays.

There will also be no change at the stations either side of Winchester on the main line between London and the south coast.

The office at Micheldever Station, which is popular with commuters, will continue to operate from 6.20am to 9.05am on weekdays.

Shawford Station no longer has a ticket office. It uses automated machines, which is also the case at Winchester and Micheldever when the offices are shut.

Of the 17 stations facing reduced hours across the south, it has already been confirmed that changes will be made at 11 of them.

They include Whitchurch, Netley, and St Denys in Southampton. More might follow if the Department for Transport gives its permission.

The Rail Maritime and Transport Union accused South West Trains of a profit-driven decision at the expense of service and safety.

In response, the firm accused the union of scaremongering, adding that half of all passengers now buy tickets from machines or online.