Rail ticket office closure plan fury

METRO Mayor Dan Norris has urged a government minister to be “flexible and pragmatic” as he raised deep concerns over rapid plans to close rail ticket offices across the West of England.

In a face to face meeting with Rail Minister Huw Merriman Mr Norris explained how residents had contacted him up in arms about the plans.

A 21-day consultation was held last month into the proposed closures, with the proposals apparently pushed by ministers.

The affected ticket offices include those at Filton Abbey Wood, Bristol Temple Meads, Bath Spa, Bristol Parkway, Yate, Oldfield Park and Keynsham where an estimated 600,000 paper  tickets were sold last year.