👇 Read my open letter to Southeastern calling for Orpington Station to be designated as a regional Travel Centre.
Several residents have contacted me in recent weeks over proposed ticket office closures with concerns for what these changes could mean. It is currently intended that Chelsfield and Knockholt ticket offices will close given that only 16% and 36%, respectively, of ticket sales are made via office and vending machines combined.
I recently met with Southeastern to discuss their proposals and to consider appropriate mitigations, such as how staff will be deployed to directly assist passengers, as well as increases to staffing hours.
Post-pandemic, Orpington is still a commuter town into the City and the number of passengers travelling through remains very high – as evidenced by Southeastern’s own data.
That is why I believe it is right that Orpington Station is awarded Travel Centre status to offer local residents and other customers a full-suite of services, which would also help offset the proposed closure of two rural ticket offices.
I will continue to update residents as I engage with Southeastern on this matter ahead of the consultation results being published.