Hertfordshire passengers stand to lose hundreds of hours of staff time at their stations.

With hours to go until a consultation on ticket office closures ends, some have condemned plans to shut kiosks and reduce staffed hours throughout the county.

While some stations will have a greater number of staffed hours, with a 24-hour presence at Bishop’s Stortford and a late morning and early evening presence in Broxbourne, Hitchin and Harpenden, others will lose the provision altogether.

The Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents rail firms, said the plans will lead to “customer-focused stations”.

The Comet:

But some senior councillors in Herts have rushed to voice their objections to the plans.

Hertford Bengeo councillor Ben Crystall, East Herts Council leader, said at his nearest station, getting rid of the ticket office will mean climbing three sets of stairs to seek help if staff are on the platforms.

“We’re incredibly concerned that losing ticket offices means a passenger walking into a station won’t have that person on hand to answer key questions,” the Green Party councillor said.

“Hertford North’s ticket office is on the ground floor and the platforms are elevated, which means if you need help and nobody is in the ticket office, you would have to climb three sets of stairs, find help, come downstairs again, then go back up to the platforms.

“It’s about having staff where they’re needed.”

Stevenage, St Albans City and Welwyn Garden - along side Watford Junction - are the Hertfordshire stations which will have a “customer information centre”, where staff will be on hand throughout the week.

The Comet: Stevenage railway

However, plans would see ticket offices closed, with staff on platforms at Radlett, Harpenden, Potters Bar, Brookmans Park, Welham Green, Hatfield, Welwyn North, Knebworth, Cuffley, Hertford North, Watton-at-Stone, Hitchin, Letchworth, Baldock, Ashwell & Morden and Royston - among others across the county.

RDG chief executive said just 12 per cent of tickets are sold at kiosks on average today.

“Our proposals would mean more staff on hand on to give face to face help with a much wider range of support, from journey planning, to finding the right ticket and helping those with accessibility needs,” Jacqueline Starr, RDG chief executive, said.

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Read more: Opinion: Closing railway ticket offices is a bad idea

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She said the industry has “widely sought” the views of accessibility and passenger groups.

The consultations are on the Transport Focus and London TravelWatch websites.

In both Stevenage and Hatfield, petitions have been launched to stop the plans from going ahead. 

The Comet: A railway station in Hertfordshire which has incomplete tactile paving

The Stevenage Labour Party's petition calls on the Secretary of State for Transport, Mark Harper MP, to save the ticket office at Stevenage train station.

"We strongly oppose the proposed closure of the Stevenage station ticket office," it says. "The closure would impact the ability to buy tickets, plan future journeys, receive advice and assistance, and navigate the station.

Hatfield's petition, started by resident Rody Ribeiro, has now reached over 1,000 signatures.

The Comet: Harpenden station is one ticket office set to close in the proposals

Ticket offices due to close

Avanti West Coast, Greater Anglia, Great Northern, LNER, London Northwestern Railway, Stansted Express and Thameslink stops will be affected by the changes.

In addition to ticket office closures, some ticket assistance hours might change.

Ticket offices closures and the new arrangements are:

  • London Marylebone – Staff on the platform.
  • London Euston – Ticket office to shut but support available 6am until 10pm weekdays and Saturdays, and 7am until 10pm on Sundays.
  • Kings Langley – New mobile team and new “touch in touch out” contactless travel.
  • Apsley – New mobile team and new “touch in touch out” contactless travel.
  • Hemel Hempstead – New mobile team and new “touch in touch out” contactless travel.
  • Berkhamsted – New mobile team and new “touch in touch out” contactless travel.
  • Tring – New mobile team and new “touch in touch out” contactless travel.
  • Elstree & Borehamwood – Staff on the platform.
  • Radlett – Staff on the platform.
  • Harpenden – Staff on the platform.
  • Luton – Staff on the platform.
  • Potters Bar – Staff on the platform.
  • Brookmans Park – Staff on the platform.
  • Welham Green – Staff on the platform.
  • Hatfield – Staff on the platform.
  • Welwyn North – Staff on the platform.
  • Knebworth – Staff on the platform.
  • Cuffley – Staff on the platform.
  • Hertford North – Staff on the platform.
  • Watton-at-Stone – Staff on the platform.
  • Hitchin – Staff on the platform.
  • Letchworth – Staff on the platform.
  • Baldock – Staff on the platform.
  • Ashwell & Morden – Staff on the platform.
  • Royston – Staff on the platform.
  • Waltham Cross – Staff on the platform on weekdays and Saturdays. Mobile team on Sundays.
  • Cheshunt – Staff on the platform.
  • Broxbourne – Staff on the platform.
  • Rye House – Staff on the platform on weekdays and Saturdays. Mobile team on Sundays.
  • St Margarets – Staff on the platform on weekdays and Saturdays. Mobile team on Sundays.
  • Ware – Staff on the platform.
  • Hertford East – Staff on the platform on weekdays and Saturdays. Mobile team on Sundays.
  • Harlow Town – Staff on the platform.
  • Sawbridgeworth – Staff on the platform.
  • Bishop’s Stortford – Staff on the platform 24 hours a day.

The consultation ends tomorrow.