Ticket office opening hours at the Stirling area’s two main train stations are set to be cut from next year as part of an assessment carried out by operators Scotrail.
The changes follow research which Scotrail claim shows a “dramatic increase” in the number of tickets bought by passengers online, via their app or at ticket machines – with a 50 per cent drop seen in sales at ticket offices.
Proposed changes to opening times will hit particularly hard at Stirling Station, where the ticket office will close an hour earlier – at 8pm – on a Saturday and almost three hours earlier on a Sunday – from 10pm to 7.15pm.
Stirling’s ticket office will also see changes during the week, closing an hour earlier from 9pm to 8pm Mondays to Thursdays and 45 minutes on Fridays at 8.15pm.
Dunblane’s station has also been affected by the proposals, with the ticket office there set to close half an hour earlier during weekdays and on Saturdays.
Scotrail’s figures from its 2021 survey revealed just 16 per cent of tickets were purchased at physical offices, with 90 per cent of those sales originating from 20 stations.
Following a consultation with the Transport Focus watchdog, the changes were put in motion – with 12 ticket offices seeing an increase in opening hours and 54 ticket offices having a reduction.
The company has also insisted there will be no job losses or redundancies as a result of the changes, with staff carrying out other “customer supporting duties” – including ticket barrier duties.
The rail operator said staff would also be more available for customers due to the changes, tackling issues around ticket selling/inspection and antisocial behaviour.
Phil Campbell, Scotrail Customer Operations Director, said: “The independent passenger watchdog Transport Focus carried out an extensive consultation on these proposals, which received feedback from thousands of people across Scotland.
“We have listened to our customers and updated our proposals based on that feedback.
“These changes will provide a service that is better suited for today and the ticket-buying habits of our customers, as well as create an environment that improves safety and customer support.”