ScotRail's Plans to Reduce Ticket Office Opening Hours

That the Parliament is concerned that rail operator, ScotRail, is reportedly proceeding with plans to reduce ticket office opening hours at 101 of its 143 staffed stations, of which more than 30 are in the West Scotland region, including Wemyss Bay, Ardrossan South Beach, Irvine, Kilwinning and Largs; is further concerned about the impact on passenger accessibility, safety, security, quality of service and access to rail products and services of these proposals and believes that certain groups such as disabled and older people and women and girls will be particularly impacted; considers that ticket offices provide a fixed location for passengers to locate staff and are a place of safety for both passengers and staff; understands that, through schedule 17 of the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement, ticket office staffing is the only regulated station staffing, and, therefore, if there are reductions in ticket office hours, there are no future safeguards regarding station staffing levels; further understands that ScotRail is basing these proposals on a public consultation, which was undertaken in January 2022 by former operator, Abellio; notes with concern that, in the public consultation, 98% respondents opposed the proposals; applauds the members of the railway trade unions who are currently campaigning to oppose these plans; understands that, as ScotRail is owned by the Scottish Government, the Cabinet Secretary for Transport was required to authorise ScotRail’s proposals, and notes the belief that the Scottish Government and ScotRail should commit to halting these plans at the 101 stations and commence the long-delayed National Rail Conversation over the future of Scotland’s railway that was first announced in 2022.