petition against possible Railway ticket office closures in the Reading West / West Berkshire area

On Tuesday 20th September, Labour Party members from Reading and West Berkshire will join forces with rail staff and passengers to launch a petition against possible ticket office closures in the Reading West / West Berkshire area. Following the McNulty report, Reading West, Tilehurst, Pangbourne, Theale and Thatcham stations all risk losing ticket offices under the proposals. This comes as First Great Western gradually remove revenue staff and conductors from local rail services on the Kennet line, and comes just weeks after rail companies were given the green light to rise fares well above inflation.

Newbury Labour Party spokesman Richard Garvie said that if the changes were given the green light by the Government, it would be another example of passengers paying a lot more for less service. "These proposals are of serious concern, not least because the elderly and disabled could potentially be excluded from using these stations if they are unable to work the ticket machines. I used to use Kintbury station, and I was forever being charged the most expensive fare for not purchasing a ticket at Kintbury, despite there not being the option to purchase a ticket at the station. What we really need is for our local MP's to lobby the Government to save these ticket offices. The MP's saying that they are against the proposals are one thing, but will Mr Benyon and Mr Sharma have the courage to stand up to the PM and vote against the Government? On their past voting record, I would say it is very unlikely."

The first petition session will be held at Tilehurst Railway station on Tuesday 20th September from 7am to 9am, and members of the media are requested to attend to speak to campaigners, union members and passengers about the effect that the changes will have local services.