THE ROYAL National Institute for the Blind have welcomed the scrapping of controversial plans to close Worcestershire railway station ticket offices.
The institute’s chief executive says the organisation are delighted the ‘voice of blind and partially sighted people has been heard’ after the sweeping closures would have reduced disabled people’s access to rail services at hundreds of stations around the country.
News of the u-turn on the plans broke when Transport Secretary Mark Harper said the government had asked train operators to withdraw their proposals because they failed to meet high passenger standards.
Matt Stringer, RNIB Chief Executive said: ““We welcome the Minister’s commitment in a meeting this morning to form a working group with a variety of organisations to ensure a better train travelling experience in the future, with accessible technology and infrastructure improvements at its heart.
“The huge upswell of concern by blind and partially sighted people was unprecedented within the community, as was the huge public opposition to the plans.
“These prove that nothing can replicate having a fixed train ticket location and office staff available as the first point of contact for many kinds of staff assistance.”
RNIB also highlighted their own research which showed only 3 per cent of people with sight loss said they could use a ticket vending machine without problems, while 58 per cent said it was impossible.
Matt Stringer added: “As well as accessibility problems with online ticket websites and apps, they immediately exclude the large number of blind and partially sighted people without internet or smartphones.”
