Andy Burnham has vowed to “keep fighting” to make sure train station ticket offices don’t permanently close.
In case you’re not quite up to speed, the Mayor of Greater Manchester has been leading a campaign group of four northern mayors who are taking legal action over the proposed closure of train station ticket offices in England, after the government-run Rail Delivery Group (RDG) unveiled plans back in July back to “bring station staff closer to customers” by moving them out of ticket offices and onto platforms and concourses instead.
Around three out of five train stations in England currently have a staffed ticket office, but all that could change moving forward, with just under 1,000 of them earmarked to close – including at some of the UK’s busiest stations, such as Manchester Piccadilly.
In a letter penned to Transport Secretary Mark Harper to express his discontent at the proposed closures, the Greater Manchester Mayor also called for an “immediate suspension” to rail operator Northern‘s process.
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He claimed he had “no other option” but to take legal action.
Andy Burnham vows to ‘keep fighting’ to stop train station ticket offices closing / Credit: RDG
But now, after a consultation on the proposed closure of ticket offices has officially come to an end, Mr Burnham has joined his fellow mayors – the others of which are Mayor of Liverpool Steve Rotheram, Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin, and Mayor of South Yorkshire Oliver Coppard – they calling for “the right thing to be done by stopping the plans now” in a joint statement.
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“The train companies initially tried to push the closure of ticket offices through, under the radar,” the Mayors’ joint statement reads.
“But together, we made them listen.
🗣️ “There is still an opportunity here to do the right thing and stop these plans now. In the meantime, we stand firm, and we will keep fighting.”
Andy and other England mayors issue joint statement as consultation to close almost all ticket offices ends https://t.co/BIBDA03UZ3
— Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham (@MayorofGM) September 1, 2023
“Our legal challenge resulted in the operators extending the consultation process, addressing unfair accessibility issues and producing Equality Impact Assessments which are vital in assessing the plans [and] this meant that more people were able to have their say on the plans – and may otherwise have remained unheard.
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“The law is clear that operators cannot close parts of stations without following the clear procedure set out in the Railways Act 2005.
“This procedure has still not been followed and the process of our legal challenge with the train firms around this remains ongoing.
Thank you to everyone who has supported the call to #SaveTicketOffices. 🙏🏻
You would think even this Government will now have to listen and drop the plans.
If they don’t, you’ve given myself and other Mayors a clear mandate to continue with our legal challenge. 👍🏻 pic.twitter.com/6cVLZjogxG
“Closing ticket offices will hit the most vulnerable hardest [and] at a time when we need more people using the railways, these plans would have the opposite effect.
“All eyes are now on Transport Focus to see how they respond to the hundreds of thousands of responses that we believe they have received, as there is still an opportunity here to do the right thing and stop these plans now.
“But in the meantime, we stand firm – and we will keep fighting.”
Featured Image – RDG
News
You can now have a private tour of Manchester Christmas Markets
Thomas Melia
Every year, Manchester Christmas Markets hosts its almost two-month long residency on the frosty streets of our lively city, but now you can enjoy the cute huts with an unbeatable luxury experience.
Travel agency, Viator, who are directly connected to TripAdvisor, have launched a one on one guided tour of Manchester and its stunning Manchester Christmas Marketsin all their glory.
This private tour of the festivities occurring in the city will last two hours and for the whole duration of your time, a city host will be on hand to offer undivided attention, catering to your every need.
A makeshift itinerary is already awaiting guests and can be tailored according to the individual taking the tour, everything is catered to your preferences.
Anyone who books onto the tour also receives a complimentary hot chocolate and that’s sweetened the deal for me, I’m sold.
How can you go wrong with these incredible options at Manchester Christmas Markets?You can recreate your very own gigantic cheese pull and your local host can snap a piccie.Scrumptious selection of food available as you venture through Manchester Christmas Markets in style.
There’s also the chance to keep your hands toasty with a free cup of mulled wine or a soft-drink for those who aren’t interested in the warm alcoholic beverage.
Manchester Christmas Markets are a phenomenal day or night-out regardless so this latest personalised opportunity will take your festive fantasies to a whole new level.
This private tour provides a one-of-a-kind exclusive treatment making your stroll down Manchester Cathedral, Exchange Square and Manchester Town Hall that little bit more special.
These tours are a great chance to immerse yourself in one of Manchester’s many selling points as you can choose to focus your time around art and culture, fashion, architecture or our personal favourite – food.
This exclusive tour package which highlights the best of Manchester Christmas Markets is definitely a present in itself with tickets costing a hefty sum of £100.
If you want to visit Manchester Christmas Markets while also living the high life with a private tour, ‘Christmas In Manchester: Private Experience With A City Host’ is running all the way until the huts shut shop on 22 December and tickets can be found here.
A Christmas train in Wigan has been delivering donated toys galore
Thomas Melia
Yuletide wishes have come true as a donation of toys and goodies have been delivered via a Christmas train in Wigan, right in time for the big day.
The Amazon toy train, which is a new initiative running this festive season, is dropping off presents from now right up until Christmas day itself.
Already visiting Wigan earlier this month, the locomotive has its sites set on three more stops including London, Swansea and Scotland as it makes its journey across three nations.
In partnership with Multibank’s Brick-by-Brick project, the train hopes to provide and offer gifts to families in need across the UK with Wigan marking the closest stop off in Greater Manchester.
Credit: Lee Boswell (supplied)
All the toys that are being transported across the country in this Amazon-fronted train are featured on the company’s ‘Top Ten Toys 2024’ list.
Hatchimals, Screamerz and Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza were some of the exciting gifts found on the Christmas train in Wigan at the start of this month.
This lighthearted and fun-filled Christmas-themed project is kitted out with toys from top brands like Play-Doh and the brickmasters themselves, LEGO Star Wars.
So far, Multibank has helped over 400,000 families and provided three million essential items across their operations in England, Scotland and Wales since launching in 2022.
This collaborative local project doesn’t just operate at Christmastime either: Brick-to-Brick Multibank run all year round collecting surplus business requirements like furniture, hot water bottles and hygiene products to be used by those less fortunate.
The Christmas train in Wigan filled with Amazon’s top toys.The Wigan toy train features some well known brands.Credit: Supplied
This roster of children’s favourite companions and interactive games is inspired by the consumers themselves. Every toy is related to or the exact match of what Amazon customers have been searching for the most. A real Christmas list come true.
The list of the top toys isn’t extortionate either, offering customers some affordable and still as fascinating options with prices starting from £9.99.
Even old-school classics like Play-Doh have a spot on this wish list. This poses the really big question: where’s the adult version?
You may have finished your Christmas shopping not too long ago or might still be looking for inspiration, browse the top-ranked teddies and more HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
4th September 2023 
