October - Intercity Railway Society

Network News
Allerton Depot:
Having reported the sad loss of Thornaby it seems all is not lost for our traditional depots as it appears
Allerton is to re-open, albeit to service Northern Rail DMUs.
Railway Booking Office Closures by Andrew Woodcock:
The proposal to close hundreds (675) of booking offices in the McNulty Report has prompted much
debate in the media. What a catastrophe this will be in the rush to embrace new technology. By no
means has everyone got a computer be they young or old or even wants one. Many that have are not
very computer literate in using the internet. Many also do not trust booking and giving credit / debit
card details online. How much will it cost in terms of time and money to travel to larger stations to book
your tickets. I wonder if those in the halls of power ever travel by train ? My recent experience at the
beginning of the month on a trip to Porthmadog for the narrow gauge railways show how hard things
are for travellers.
I booked my North and Mid Wales rover ticket at Hebden Bridge one Sunday whilst on my dinner
break from work. A helpful chap assisted me in finding and booking the ticket I required. My ticket to
and from Chester was booked on the internet. With reasonable computer knowledge I still managed in
my search for a cheap ticket to travel from Manchester to Chester the long way round via Northwich.
Other idiosyncrasies appeared on my return journey. Catching a train just after 11.00 from Holyhead I
found an Arriva 2 car Cl.158 packed out with passengers and luggage from the Irish Ferries. Our train
was bound for Birmingham Int. Passengers for the West Coast main line were told to change at
Bangor for the Virgin service. The on-train announcements did not allow for request stops with people
trying to get off at Valley thinking it was Bangor. When they did change at Bangor, the station was
shrouded in scaffolding and lifts and the footbridge were difficult to find. Either of which they had to
use to change platforms. Why does the Virgin train not start at Holyhead save all this hassle ? Also
why not tell people to change at Llandudno Jnct or Chester where the following Virgin train stops at
the same island platform ? Too easy I guess....been there before with my travels, ed. In my own case I
was routed to change at Manchester Oxford Road for my Huddersfield train. I had to change platforms
using the footbridge, no lifts. Not convenient for people less mobile or who have heavy luggage.
Many of you I know will echo Andy’s thoughts and particularly those of us brought up (and survived)
without computers and used to dealing face to face with a human being. Nothing wrong with bringing
in technology to improve efficiency (couldn’t produce Tracks without it), but it should be an aid not a
replacement to people. Even worse when it does away with local knowledge to be replaced with a
system devoid of common sense and the inability to provide all relevant conditions of travel as with
vending machines...and they can’t suggest alternative travel arrangements.
In a similar vein, ICRS has been contacted by Barry Watson concerned over the loss of Ledbury
booking office. His plea highlights the human face of railways that so many unstaffed stations have
lost and desperately needs to be maintained to encourage train travel, particularly from lesser used
rural stations.
“For those that have ever visited the little town of Ledbury on the west of the Malvern Hills or travelled
from there you will be aware of the great little independently run ticket office run from the lovingly
maintained hut on the platform. It has been there for years and the people who staff it are wonderful in
helping people with their tickets to travel not only in the UK but abroad. Under Network Rails
governance this office is set to close. Why, nobody really knows.
Can you give any advice as to how to stop this happening and who to lobby to make most effect. We
have lost our tourist information office and now this...where will it all end. So with the loss of the rail
ticket office Ledbury will lose even more of its identity which makes it such a lovely place to visit on the
train”.
If anyone has any bright ideas or feels impassioned enough to start an online campaign (there you go,
technology to the rescue v technology !!) contact Carl our Chairman who will contact Barry.