Forum Topic

Chiswick Station ticket office saved

A small victory but one that should give pause for thought for people who say there is no point responding to consultations.

Francis Rowe ● 1052d46 Comments

It's great news for vulnerable and disabled travellers in particular.Although, in respect of consulations it really does depend who is running them. All too often we hear "a consultation is not a referendum" if the "required result" is not delivered.

N V Brooks ● 1052d

This really  is not as simple as  proof that consultations work. I’m pretty sure there was a nationwide outcry. I’m hoping the reaction to ULEZ yields a similar result

Maggie Dodge ● 1052d

Maggie's right ... from what I've read around 99% of the 750,000 who replied were opposed to the proposals to close ticket offices. This government would be stupid to ignore such a strength of feeling.Not sure you will get a similar result with ULEZ, the expansion has already been implemented, and I don't imagine the opposition expressed during the consultation over the expansion to cover the whole of London was anything like as one sided as the opposition to the 2nd ULEZ expansion. I tried to find the consultation results, but TfLs website snookered me.That said, there was 56% (or thereabouts) support for the extension of the ULEZ to the A406/A205 boundaries when there was a consultation about that, so I would expect that while there may well be a majority opposing the most recent expansion, there would still be a sizeable minority in favour.I could be mistaken, but as I said, I couldn't locate the consultation results regarding the recent expansion. If anyone can post a link to the actual consultation results, I'd be interested.

Andrew Jones ● 1052d

Ok - located the consultation results contained in a 119 page document.Looks like the majority of people resident within the previous A406/A205 boundary who responded were heavily in favour (only 24% opposed to implementation of expansion) while the majority outside of the area where it was already in force were opposed (70% of respondents opposed to implementation who lived in outer London, 75% of respondents opposed to implementation who lived in Greater London). It's going to take a change of Mayor for there to be any chance of a U-turn on ULEZ implemetation (IMHO).

Andrew Jones ● 1052d

Andrew, as I say often. I am on numerous Facebook pages. There is a huge following for blade runners and people blocking the ULEZ vans. This is very unusual for the average British person. Unlike the JSO fanatics. People are fed up of being ignored.  You cannot deny the fake information used to implement this money grab.

Maggie Dodge ● 1052d

Dissatisfaction is growing daily . Sunak is pretending to be on the motorist side because he knows it’s a vote winner. There are areas where it’s totally inappropriate as their entitled attitude grows, this could  easily be the last straw for many. “Our Great British Farmers joining in Van Blocking !Seems like the Great British Bulldog Spirit is awakening ❤️People Power.

Maggie Dodge ● 1052d

Hi Maggie,Did you actually mean to write "you cannot deny the fake information used to ..." or did you mean to write something else? Either way, I don't think I've denied anything in this thread have I? I will go back and check though. When I found the results of the 2021 consultation it agreed with something that I thought likely to be the case - a majority against ULEZ outside of the area it was then operating in, but a substantial minority in favour.If people want to block ULEZ vans, that's fine by me - if that's how they want to spend their time, so be it - I'm neutral about that. On the other hand, if the vans are running their engines while in situ, I'd be fully supportive of blocking them and shaming the people operating the van into switching their engines off.It always pissed me off to hear about enforcement vehicles parked illegally or with their engines running.

Andrew Jones ● 1052d

Andrew, I suppose it’s the danger of the written word, but I also think you have a tendency to misunderstand me. It’s common terminology to say “you can’t deny” without implying you have already denied. It’s just a turn of phrase 🤷‍♀️

Maggie Dodge ● 1052d

Hi Maggie, not sure how often I misunderstand you, it has happened (clearly and more than just this time!), however I wouldn't go so far as to agree it's a tendency, but in this case you are correct, I did interpret your comment as being directed at me, and didn't recognise it as being a turn of phrase. Obvious in hindsight.Like you say, it's the danger of the written word, that sometimes doesn't convey the nuances of speech. Thanks for clarifying.

Andrew Jones ● 1052d

You’re welcome Andrew. It’s exactly why I use emojis so much, to hopefully clarify my comments.

Maggie Dodge ● 1052d

Right on! People Pedal Power!

Anne England ● 1052d

👍 This is probably the first emoji I’ve ever posted btw.

Andrew Jones ● 1052d

Good line that in Byline Times Todayhttps://bylinetimes.com/2023/11/01/early-signs-show-sadiq-khans-expanded-ultra-low-emissions-zone-is-working-and-the-culture-warriors-have-gone-quiet/"New analysis by Transport for London's social media team has now found a 97% reduction in conversations about ULEZ on social media since the zone's expansion on August 29"As predicted once people realised that it didn't actually affect them, or change actually benefitted them, or that cleaner air for everybody is actually and quite obviously a good thing all the heat leaves the discussion.

Paul Campbell ● 1052d

Meanwhile, back to sanity where most have zero objection to ULEZ (only the failed TfL process and obfuscation)and the great news that disabled and older passengers will still have a reassuring presence at most local stations.

N V Brooks ● 1052d

Parallel universe. ULEZ is all a lot of social media I’d talking about. You think the poorer in the community have suddenly decided they don’t mind being ripped off Paul. 😂Bladerunners are heroes

Maggie Dodge ● 1052d

Hounslow Say No to ULEZ Facebook Grouo, one of many“The little man says public transport is better for us, the environment and the pocket.Feltham to Hammersmith bus today - 2 hrs 10 minutes, 2 buses 3 terminations!!!”

Maggie Dodge ● 1052d

Ticket offices remaining open is good for everybody. As is cleaner air.

Paul Campbell ● 1052d

They may be heroes to you Maggie, but they are also responsible for causing criminal damage.Was Alex Belfield one of your heroes Maggie?

Andrew Jones ● 1052d

Will those of us who prepared well in advance for ULEZ and changed our motors accordingly be compensated if those of an ostrich tendency get their way and have the ULEZ roll out reversed?

Will Watson ● 1052d

One small observation - while the percentage of cars adhering to 'clean air standards' may have gone up to 95%, the ULEZ standard is less stringent than the T-Charge 'standard', so the amount of cars in 2017 that met current ULEZ standards would have been slightly more than 39% (though probably not by very much, possibly less than 1% more I imagine)I know this first hand, as my pre-2006 Mini was liable for the Toxicity Charge, but wasn't liable for the replacement ULEZ charge.

Andrew Jones ● 1052d

Ticket offices benefit only a few. Most of us have no problems using the machines or buying tickets online. Keeping ticket offices is a total waste of money. Ticket office staff would be better deployed assisting customers on the stations. It would be better for ticket office staff morale to have them out and about mingling with customers rather than sitting in cramped airless kiosks. Little wonder the majority of ticket office staff are so grumpy, miserable and rude to passengers. Another government blunder in backing down and reversing this decision.

Steve Taylor ● 1052d

“It always pissed me off to hear about enforcement vehicles parked illegally or with their engines running.“Well I thought this thread was about ticket offices but if you want to talk about ULEZ and clean air and all the other nonsense, how about the runt mayor banning ice cream vans parked up with engines running for hours. This surely cannot be good for the environment and if he wants to bleat on about a healthy London doesn’t he realise that ice cream helps kids to get fat and unhealthy and can lead to type 2 diabetes?

Steve Taylor ● 1052d

I hear the Bladerunners might feature on ITV News this evening.

Maggie Dodge ● 1052d

Do you mean to say Steve that you've never commented on a post in a thread that had nothing to do with the original topic the thread was about?I've no idea what the Mayor thinks about ice cream vans and how unhealthy eating ice cream is. If you feel strongly about it, why not petition your council about it? Camden and Greenwich have both banned ice cream vans from some streets in recent years.If the mayor tried to do it, no doubt the papers would lambast him about it.

Andrew Jones ● 1052d

Wait until you are either elderly (you will be one day) or disabled. Your blinkered view will change.

N V Brooks ● 1052d

Not so - they are adrenalin junkies committing criminal damage.

Philippa Bond ● 1052d

Closing ticket offices was just another Govt cost cutting idea which would make it harder for people to travel by rail - which for many who can no longer drive or who no longer want to or can drive long distances but still want to visit family and friends need to be able to access.  It is bad enough that all those efforts to make the railways accessible and/or more accessible to all when we had the Olympics disappeared once they had finished.Govt should be making rail travel easier and that includes making it easier to buy tickets - and ideally cheaper.  It shouldn't depend on you having a mobile phone to get the best deal.  Have you ever tried to negotiate a website when to read it you need a very large font?

Philippa Bond ● 1052d

“If the mayor tried to do it, no doubt the papers would lambast him about it.”So what?  If he was genuinely concerned about health and air pollution he would welcome the opportunity to put his case to journalists to publish. Point is he is only interested in making money! 

Steve Taylor ● 1052d

“Wait until you are either elderly (you will be one day) or disabled. Your blinkered view will change.”No it won’t.  I would welcome the fact that rail staff are out and about on the platforms to and foyers to assist passengers rather than sitting on their arses in ticket kiosks looking irritated when I customer dares to come forward to buy a ticket!  Why is it that some people are so disparaging about the elderly as to assume they are too feeble to use a ticket machine or a computer?  That is just so ageist and disrespectful!  If I were old  I would be highly offended if someone assumed I was too useless to use technology just because of my age.

Steve Taylor ● 1052d

“ It shouldn't depend on you having a mobile phone to get the best deal.”And you really think that buying a train ticket at a ticket office gets you the best deal?  I think you’ll find they physically buying a ticket at a station ensure that you pay the highest price possible.

Steve Taylor ● 1052d

Believe me it will change .As to familiarity with technology yes we are both comfortable into our dotage but many older people are not hence the increasing popularity of silver surfer classes. To assume all share your technological competence is incredibly selfish

N V Brooks ● 1051d

“ To assume all share your technological competence is incredibly selfish”Why is it selfish to expect old people to continue to learn. If they are competent enough to use public transport on their own surely they are competent enough to use basic and simplistic technology to buy a train ticket? Fine for them because they generally travel for free but the cost of maintaining all these underused ticket offices will inevitably lead to increased fares in a transport system that is already the most expensive in Europe. The government was wrong to u-turn on this issue.

Steve Taylor ● 1051d

Which is why I mentioned the Silver Surfers clubs!However not all attend them nor should they be expected to attend simply to buy a train ticket.Absolutely the right decision to curtail the closures.Plenty of other way to save money in the rail industry, like revising the entire franchising and rolling stock leasing model.

N V Brooks ● 1051d

I find it hard to imagine that this government or any other has the best interest of the people at its heart.  My feeling is that politicians of almost every persuasion are only in it for themselves. The smaller parties , who don’t stand a chance of being voted in, seem to be coming from a good place. So few good people in the world. I’m obviously having a bad day but it’s how I feel generally.

Maggie Dodge ● 1050d

So Silly Steve is happy using the machines or buying his tickets online, but nevertheless takes the time to notice that the majority of ticket office staff are grumpy, miserable and rude to passengers while sitting in cramped airless kiosks. I suspect they might be grumpier still if they were required to wander around the platforms in the pouring rain. At least if they are in their ticket office any passengers needing their assistance will know where to find them without having to chase them up and down the platforms. I might add that I regularly buy train tickets at a station where there are no ticket machines and the staff there are always smiling and co-operative, help me to get the correct ticket and price, and have a pleasant sizeable room to work in with heating or airconditioning depending on the time of year.

Richard Greenhough ● 1050d

“ and have a pleasant sizeable room to work in with heating or airconditioning depending on the time of year.”And a total waste of energy and money! 

Steve Taylor ● 1050d

“Plenty of other way to save money in the rail industry, like revising the entire franchising and rolling stock leasing model.”No doubt there  are plenty of ways to save money but in the meantime it was absolutely wrong to curtail the decision to close ticket offices. Another example of government dilly dallying which we have seen from the Covid enquiry seems to be par for the course with the bunch of morons in government and in the civil service.  Now wait for the massive fare increases.

Steve Taylor ● 1050d

So you think they should only be given cramped airless kiosks? Wouldn't want you as an employer.

Richard Greenhough ● 1050d

The massive fare increases were going to happen anyway. to blame these on keeping ticket offices open is a bit of a stretch.

N V Brooks ● 1050d

“ So you think they should only be given cramped airless kiosks? ”No, moron, I said the kiosks should be closed and the staff should be assisted passengers in the foyers and on platforms. And don’t worry about having me as an employer because I don’t employ morons.

Steve Taylor ● 1050d

Seems we are living in a surreal world of nonsense,

Janice Evans ● 1050d

Well I hope you don’t have heating or air con in your place of work Steve

Maggie Dodge ● 1050d

That's good news.

Nora Watkins ● 1049d

Bad news for fare increases.

Steve Taylor ● 1047d

Yawn.Any fare increases could be more than mitigated by adopting 21st Century (20th Century in some cases) working practices.By dismantling the, now well-proven to be broken, franchising model that generates profits for foreign governments and investors. By dismantling the monolith of Network Rail/GBR with its 'oustanding' record of delivering works late and over budget and breaking up the duopoly of the rolling stock leasing groups. Compared to them, the cost of keeping ticket offices open is like finding a few coins down the back of the sofa,

N V Brooks ● 1047d

"..don’t worry about having me as an employer because I don’t employ morons"I guess that means you aren't self-employed then ?

Richard Greenhough ● 1047d