A STOURBRIDGE railway users group has slammed cost-cutting plans to axe ticket offices, slash opening times and cut staff at train stations in the area.

Stourbridge Line User Group (SLUG) is fiercely opposed to London Midland’s proposals which would see the opening hours at Stourbridge Junction and Stourbridge Town train station ticket offices drastically cut and Lye left totally unmanned.

The train company has pledged to install ticket vending machines and CCTV cameras at affected stations, but SLUG members say the plans amount to a downgrading of the service.

Rob Hebron, SLUG chairman, said: “At a time when train usage is increasing and the public should be encouraged to use public transport, London Midland is actually discouraging passengers.

“It’s the wider picture and the implications of cuts which worry SLUG.

“Face to face contact with staff not only assists the enquiring traveller but it reassures he or she that they are personally secure at a station.

“Lye is not a village station in a remote location – it is in a highly populated area. It deserves a new station building and not a basic waiting shelter.

“Stourbridge Town is to become part of a new bus/train interchange – this is no way to introduce integrated public transport.

“The only people who will gain are fare dodgers and so the whole exercise will be counter-productive.”

Under the proposals - which could be implemented in July - Stourbridge Junction ticket office will close at 8pm, instead of near midnight, on Mondays to Fridays, 9pm on Saturdays and 7pm on Sundays; and Stourbridge Town will be unmanned from 5pm on Mondays to Thursdays and 6pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

And instead of opening at 5.43am the ticket office will open on 7am on Mondays to Fridays and 9am on Saturdays.

Hagley Rail Station ticket office will also close an hour earlier every day under the plans which West Midlands Transport Authority, Centro, has objected to.

London Midland is currently holding a public consultation with passengers about the proposals which the company’s commercial director Alex Hynes says would create a service that is “more efficient and meets more closely the needs of our passengers”.

And the company claims it will endeavor to “ensure that our high standards of customer service will not be compromised by any changes we eventually make to our ticket office opening hours.”

SLUG, which aims to improve train services for passengers using thee Birmingham to Worcester railway, has already raised its concerns with London Midland and and is urging all disgruntled rail passengers to write to the company or their MP.

For more information about the proposed changes log on to www.londonmidland.com - or to contact SLUG visit website stourbridgelineusergroup.info or email contactus@stourbridgelineusergroup.info