UPDATE: The consultation on these plans has begun. Read the plans on the Thameslink web site (or read the summary below) and email your comments to stationchanges@gtrailway.com. You can also send your views to London TravelWatch or Transport Focus.
In summary: Thameslink plans to close the ticket office but the station will be staffed for longer.
- Radlett’s ticket office will close and passengers will buy tickets from the machines or from a new ‘station host’.
- Radlett’s station host will be on duty from 0500-2300 Monday-Saturday and 0700-2300 on Sunday.
- Station hosts will answer questions, sell tickets and help passengers with the existing machines.
- The station hosts will also keep the toilets and waiting rooms open for longer.
Govia, the firm that operates the Thameslink, Gatwick Express, Southern and London Midland lines, is planning changes at about 80 stations across its network, from Summer 2016.
According to Govia’s statement, they’re going to close some ticket offices, change opening times at others and move staff from behind the glass to the new role of ‘station host’.
These are complex changes across many stations but, on the face of it, the outcome looks positive for Radlett – there’ll be someone on duty at the station from the first train until late at night. Here are some of the questions people have been asking, on Facebook and Twitter:
- What will be the effect on queues at peak times?
- Will the portable ticket machines used by the station hosts sell the full range of tickets, including school children’s six-week season tickets, tickets for other networks, Eurostar etc?
- Where will the station hosts spend their time – in the concourse, on platform 1 or elsewhere?
- Will the ticket office still be available for use at very busy times?
If you have other questions, leave them in the comments below and I’ll see if I can get answers direct from Thameslink.
A three-week consultation on the changes starts on Monday 22 February. Here’s how to get in touch and here’s a detailed table of affected stations.
Rekha Patel, who runs the invaluable newspaper kiosk on platform 1 at the station, has told me that she’s going to close up for good on 20 February. Her last day in the kiosk will be Friday 19 February.