Rail campaigners battle to save Shropshire ticket office

Rail campaigners are battling to save a county ticket office.

It was confirmed last month that the ticket office at Gobowen Railway Station, which has been run by Severn Dee Travel as a not-for-profit service for 30 years, will close later this year.

The office, which has provided an in-person way to buy railway tickets, will shut on December 31.

In a statement Severn Dee Travel said the decision had been taken as the result of a number of factors, pointing to the “continued rise of digital ticket-buying options”, “the lasting financial impact of the pandemic”, and “long-term changes in commuter travel patterns”.

In response local rail user campaigning group, the Shrewsbury-Chester Association for Rail Passengers (SCARP) has written to Transport for Wales, urging it to step in and take over the service.

A spokesperson for SCARP said “For decades, the office has been part of the fabric of the community. It serves not only Gobowen but passengers from Oswestry and the surrounding hinterland who use the station as their railhead.

“The booking office providing something a ticket machine cannot: a human being who can explain a journey, work out a complicated ticket, advise on connections and reassure someone who is uncertain about travelling.”

SCARP said it wants TfW to take over the running of the booking office in 2027.

It said the footfall at Gobowen is comparable with other stations in the TfW network where the firm operates staffed booking offices.

As part of its efforts SCARP has urged members of the public who support the campaign to e-mail comments of support.

Asked about whether it will consider the request, TfW said it is holding discussions with the building owner over its future - but said it is not able to confirm what will happen.

It said: “We recognise the value that some customers place on face-to-face assistance when purchasing tickets and seeking travel advice.

“The ticket office at Gobowen is operated by Severn Dee Travel, an independent third-party business. The company has advised that it will be ceasing operations and handing back its lease, having concluded that the current model is no longer commercially viable due to declining ticket sales.

“This reflects a broader trend across the rail industry, with more customers now choosing to purchase tickets online, through mobile apps, station ticket vending machines (TVMs) and Pay As You Go (PAYG) products where available.

“Customers at Gobowen will continue to be able to buy tickets through the station TVM and other digital channels. We are also upgrading our TVMs to provide access to a wider range of ticket types, including Advance fares and Rover & Ranger products.

“As Transport for Wales does not own the premises occupied by the ticket office, we are discussing future opportunities for the space with the facility owner. While we will explore whether a future tenant may wish to include rail ticket retailing as part of their business, we are not currently able to confirm what the future use of the premises will be.

“Transport for Wales has no plans to close any of its owned and operated ticket offices. However, where facilities are operated by independent businesses, decisions about their future operation are a matter for those organisations.”

In its statement released in September Severn Dee Travel said the closure decision had been taken with “real sadness”.

It said: “The company was established in 1995 as a community company limited by guarantee, run on a not-for-profit basis, after British Rail cutbacks put the future of the booking offices at stations at risk. For over thirty years working as a Rail Agency with numerous train operators and currently Transport for Wales, we have been proud to operate from Platform 1 at Gobowen.

“Staff are supported by a small team of unpaid volunteer directors, all working to keep a friendly, personal rail booking service available to the local community.

“Sadly, the continued rise of digital ticket-buying options, the lasting financial impact of the pandemic, and long-term changes in commuter travel patterns have reduced our income to a point where we are no longer able to continue.

“We know this facility has been particularly valued by customers who prefer speaking to a person, and by those who are unable to manage online or app-based payment, and it will be a loss to lose that option locally.

“We are enormously grateful for the loyal support you have given us over so many years, and for entrusting us with your rail travel arrangements. That support is exactly what has kept us going this long, and we would not have reached thirty years without it.

“We would be very grateful if you would continue to book your rail travel with us, right up until we close.

“Continuing to use our service during this final period will make a real difference to us and to our staff as we wind down in an orderly way, and it will also mean you keep the benefit of the personal service you are used to for as long as possible.

“We intend to close on 31st December 2026.

“Thank you again, from all of us at Severn Dee Travel Limited, for so many years of loyal custom and support.

“It has been a privilege to serve you and the local community.”