Rail operator surprised by Lib Dem claims

First Great Western say its position is, and always has been, that it has no plans to close any booking offices

RAIL chiefs shot holes yesterday (Wednesday) in West Berkshire Liberal Democrats' claim to have saved staffed ticket offices at Theale and Thatcham.

The party released a press release this week which announced “ticket office success” thanks to its petition. It added: “First Great Western (FGW) have now assured West Berkshire Council that they ‘Do not intend to remove staffed ticket offices at Theale or Thatcham.'”

However, First Great Western spokesman John Ratchford expressed surprise at the release and said: “The use of the word ‘now' gives the impression that something has changed.

“Our position is, and has been, that we have no plans to close any booking offices. We've been pretty consistent on that. It will be for the Government to decide how it wishes to proceed in any new franchise going forward.”

The stations are among 675 nationwide that have been classed as Category E and could be axed under proposals in Sir Roy McNulty's report on how the railways will have to modify to cut costs, due before Secretary of State for Transport in November.

The issue became a political football after local Labour party spokesman Richard Garvie accused the Liberal Democrats of “hijacking” his campaign to oppose the proposed closure of manned booths.

Last month Labour party members took their clipboards to Thatcham station only to be met with the sight of West Berkshire Council ward member for Thatcham West (Lib Dem), Keith Woodhams, collecting signatures for a similar cause.

This week's statement from Mr Woodhams and colleague Alan Macro (Lib Dem, Theale) said: “I am delighted with FGW's response to the concerns expressed to us by rail passengers at Thatcham and Theale stations.

“We knew that getting our petitions to the council as early as possible was very important, before the decision to close the ticket offices was finalised. “Making sure that the railway company knew the strength of local opinion was bound to be a big factor in persuading them to keep the offices open.”

Meanwhile Mr Garvie said: “We will be presenting petitions to our MPs in the coming days after 2,128 people signed petitions at all of our local stations which face losing ticket offices.

“FGW have said from day one that they have no current plans to shut ticket offices at Category E railway stations, but have been working with Sir Roy McNulty and the Government to look at ways of reducing the operational costs of the railway. Sir Roy McNulty has now submitted that report and unless we lobby our local MPs, this could be adopted within weeks, leading to ticket office closures within the next eighteen months.”

David Rendel (Lib Dem, Thatcham North) defended the press release and said: “It's always possible that they (FGW) never would have agreed with the proposals whether we put in our petition or not but it's important to make it clear to them the public doesn't want it to happen.”