Travel Centre will close this month say rail chiefs
Rail bosses have confirmed a specialist office which helps passengers with travel plans at Lincoln Central station will close at the end of this month.
Last month East Midlands Trains said it was in consultation with staff and trades unions about the potential closure of the Travel Centre at Lincoln following the announcement that the company needs to shed 162 jobs across the network.
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Lincoln's Travel Centre.
Now the rail operator has publicly stated the centre will close.
EMT spokesman Emma Knight said passengers would not be left stranded by the move.
"The ticket office will remain open and staff there will be able to help passengers with the more complex inquiries," she said.
"Bookings and travel arrangements can also be made on the Internet and we are having an extra ticket vending machine installed at the station."
Retired transport planner Ron Everett (62) who lives in North Hykeham, said the decision does not make sense as the centre is normally busy.
"I was in there the other day making inquires about train travel for a trip to the Lake District," he said.
"I was waiting half an hour before a member of staff helped me."
Elsewhere in the city plans for a rescue deal to save the Tourist Information Centre in Castle Hill square from closure have been announced by the City of Lincoln Council and Lincoln Business Improvement Group.
However, the Cornhill TIC has not been saved so far.
This means that together with the closure of the Travel Centre tourists may struggle to find assistance in the lower part of the city.
For more on the closure of the Travel Centre at Lincoln train station, see Friday's Echo.
8 Comments
by AmeliaRanne, City
Friday, April 24 2009, 5:09PM
“John S.......this paper listens, but soon local papers will have to close, and what price democracy then?”
by reg, lincoln
Friday, April 24 2009, 4:32PM
“this news absolutly stinks. The comment about EMT being "A cheap & nasty company is an understatement. The comment about a computer in the hall whilst good idea it doesn't take into account "The little old lady" who cannot use such things”
by MARTIN TURNER, LINCOLN
Friday, April 24 2009, 12:21PM
“Another cheap and nasty decision from what is proving to be a truly cheap and nasty train company that would sell its grandmother for medical research if it could make 50p out of it.
And we thought Central trains was bad?”
by John S, Lincoln
Friday, April 24 2009, 10:07AM
“It appears that Lincoln is going backwards and will eventually end up as a backwater to visit for the tourist industry.
East Midland Trains is not bothered.
Lincoln City Council could not care less.
City councillors are at loggerheads with each other about it.
Lincoln University is baffled at to what is going on.
Comedians joke about the plight of Lincoln.
Its residents are pushed aside and left in the dark of matters of importance.
Local shops owners are not amused over decisions taken affecting them.
So what is the future for this beautiful Roman city of Lincoln?
The way it is going, constant delays over important issues, decisions being taken with not much consultation, and cutting back to the bare bones, there appears no light at the end of the tunnel
Any suggestions other than political back biting, should be sent via the Echo ASAP.
At least this newspaper listens!”
by Susan, Lincoln
Friday, April 24 2009, 9:36AM
“Having the same queue for people buying tickets for a train that is about to leave, and those making enquiries about complex future travel plans just does not make sense.
How about some computer terminals at the station linked solely to to the rail enquiries website?”
by tim, lincoln
Friday, April 24 2009, 8:46AM
“everytime i've used the travel office it has been very busy so there is obviously demand for the service it provides. if it is really necessary to cut staff numbers then how about a few of the gang who police the tickete barriers, watching you as you access the platforms? i thought the barriers were there to eliminate the need for so many personnel. at certain times, the queue at the ticket office does snake out of the hall and into the car park. this in itself isn't an issue and i'm quite happy with a bit of waiting, but why add more people to it who just have enquiries or wish to obtain advance tickets? it's sad when we go backwards
on another note, what a pity that public access to the station cafe was stopped when the barriers were installed. my little boy used to enjoy sitting with a carton of 5-alive and gazing out of the window on a saturday morning.... ho-hum”
by MARC, Lincoln
Friday, April 24 2009, 7:16AM
“"The ticket office will remain open and staff there will be able to help passengers with the more complex inquiries," she said..........meanwhile the que behind them starts to snake towards the city centre”
by W.Wilkins, Lincoln
Friday, April 24 2009, 6:48AM
“This has got to be really bad news, the travel centre in a train station closing. I have used this lots of times to find out times of trains, book tickets etc.
I believe this one was more use than the two TIC,s.
All i can say is i would hate to be a tourist visiting Lincoln.”