Dumfries and Galloway train station ticket office to open for just 90 minutes after 'savage cuts'

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The ticket office at Stranraer train station will be open for just 90 minutes as a result of “savage cuts”.ScotRail is scaling back opening hours as it claims more people are buying tickets online or at machines.However, opening hours at Lockerbie will remain unchanged following a ScotRail consultation on opening hours of offices across the country, with the rail operator claiming no staff will lose their jobs.The Stranraer office is currently open from 9.30am to 7pm seven days a week.From March 31, it will be open from 10am until 11.30am Monday to Thursday, 10am to 3pm on Fridays, 10am to 11.45am on Saturdays and 9.30am to 11.15am on Sundays.South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth said: “These savage cuts will be a significant change at Stranraer station where the ticket office would only be open for one-and-a-half hours Monday to Thursday.“While many people now buy their tickets online or through apps, this isn’t an option for everyone and closing tickets offices will have a huge impact.“Scotrail say staff won’t be made redundant and they have even claimed to me that staff will still be at the station doing other customer facing duties such as ticket barrier duties and revenue protection making them more visible to passengers.You do wonder if the people making these daft decisions have ever been to Stranraer station.

There are no barriers and the idea that staff will be hanging around chatting to customers but not able to sell them tickets really is nonsense.

No one believes Scotrail when they claim there won’t be a reduction in staffing at Stranraer station.”ScotRail had proposed reducing opening hours at Lockerbie, however they will remain unchanged Click here for more news and sport from Dumfries and Galloway.