A RAIL users support group has launched a campaign to save Handforth Station ticket office from possible closure.

Several train companies have announced plans to shut ticket offices as more passengers switch to buy tickets online.

Friends of Handforth Station (FoHS) were devastated to hear that their station could be effected.

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This group of 80 volunteers from the local community believes this is a bad proposal for most railway stations, and that Handforth has some issues which make it even worse.

The proposals include a reduction in staffing from six-and-a-half hours a day to two-and-half-hours a day.

Jenny Barnes, chairman of FoHS, said: “For many reasons, this would be a huge step backwards for Handforth.

“We only have one ticket machine at the moment.

“It often isn’t working, it can only be accessed via a step and it does not accept cash.

“Many in our community cannot use such machines.

“For many people, for example those living alone, speaking with a friendly person in a ticket office is a huge social benefit.”

Ian Ball, treasurer of FoHS, said: “We appreciate that private companies will benefit financially from closing ticket offices, but in every other aspect, the proposals fail to provide for the vital special travel needs of the disadvantaged among our community.

“The huge reduction in staffing hours at the station will be a major blow to the confident of those wanting to use our station.”

FoHS, the first ‘Friends of a Station’ group in the UK, has started a campaign to make passengers aware of the issues.

People are being urged to feed back their comments about the proposal before the closing date of July 28.

Secretary Hugh Everett said: “We encourage everyone who uses the station to visit our website and fill in our simple form.

“We plan to feed all comments back to the public consultation.”

To have a say on the FoHS website visit handforthstation.org.uk

When FoHS was founded in 1996, Handforth station was a vandalised eyesore and the outlook for the station seemed bleak.

Since that time, the station has seen a remarkable turnaround in fortunes – a reflection of how well this voluntary group has worked in partnership with the local community, local businesses and the rail industry.

Nowadays, Handforth station is consistently one of the highest regarded stations in the area, regularly winning awards at the annual Cheshire Best Kept Stations competition.