Disabled campaigner joins fight to stop rail booking office closures across Inverclyde

Councillor Jim MacLeod says many people have contacted him over ScotRail's controversial plan, including a lady who is registered blind and cannot use the train without assistance from staff.

Mr MacLeod and his SNP colleagues have today spoken out against the proposals, along with a visually impaired Greenock woman who uses the train to visit family and friends in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Oban and Inverness.

The 41-year-old woman, who did not want to be named, told the Telegraph: "I cannot fault the service as it is but I fear that I will be left isolated without the help of the office staff.

"I can't use unmanned stations, I have no sight at all.

"If there are no staff based there, I would feel very vulnerable and I don't think I would risk it.

"It's not just me, this will affect lots of people.

"Not everyone can book tickets online, many people want to go into a booking office and speak to someone - plus you can't use railcards on machines."

The worried passenger says the risk of anti-social behaviour without a staff presence has also been overlooked by rail chiefs.

She said: "These proposals are disgraceful.

"I thought we were trying to encourage more people to travel on trains and have a greener world.

"Instead we seem to be going backwards, it doesn't make any sense."

ScotRail has launched a consultation on its plan to shut Cartsdyke and Woodhall's offices completely and slash opening hours at Port Glasgow, Greenock Central, Greenock West, Gourock and Wemyss Bay.

It says this reflects a growing trend for people to purchase tickets online or from automated machines.

But Councillor MacLeod says disabled people have been forgotten about by rail chiefs.

He said: "The disability movement in the past have raised concerns over increasing numbers of rail stations being unstaffed and the difficulty this creates for disabled people to use trains.

"Network Rail are planning to build a bridge at Port Glasgow town centre rail station that will enable wheelchair and scooter users to cross over so they can get in and out of the station using the Princes Street entrance.

"But the proposals by ScotRail to reduce staffing levels at Port Glasgow could impact on disabled passengers at the station.

"There is also the safety of passengers getting on and off trains to consider particularly later at night when there are no staff at stations.

"We have been informed of well documented trouble with some unruly youngsters going up and down the line in Inverclyde.

"When there are staff at the stations they can alert the police and community wardens when there is trouble."

Mr MacLeod has been supported by fellow SNP councillors Chris Curley and Elizabeth Robertson, who have collectively voiced their opposition to ScotRail and have written to the transport minister.

Cllr Curley said: "This proposed reduction in ticket office opening times will have a detrimental effect on the level of service that all passengers experience and will have a greater impact on the most vulnerable within our communities.

"While ScotRail say more people now book online there are still many, particularly older people, who don't use the internet or do not pay for services online and rely on buying tickets at the train station.”

SNP group leader Mrs Robertson said: "I’m concerned that reductions such as this in the rail network provisions undermine our wish to see public transport flourish, to encourage more active and sustainable travel.

"Other consequences of staff reductions would be a lack of support for people who need help to navigate the rail network and the potential for reduced feelings of public safety.

"Having the vibrant, integrated transport system that we want to see needs the right staff in the right place at the right times.

"I’m not sure that these reductions achieve this."

A ScotRail spokesperson said that people will be able to access assistance by going to a 'help point' that will alert staff on board the approaching service.

They added: “As part of the ticket office and ticket sales review ScotRail examined how our staff help with assisting passengers and the additional work carried out by staff.

“Since there will be no reduction in current staff numbers, there will be no impact on passengers who require assistance.”