Disabled rail passengers at Portsmouth and Southsea and Portsmouth Harbour stations are expected to be the most vulnerable after the closure of ticket offices into 2024.
The shutdown was confirmed by South Western Railway after the Rail Delivery Group announced national closures to concentrate on economic growth after losses from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fears that Portsmouth residents with sight loss and autism will struggle to adapt to using electronic ticket machines have been voiced, with local and national organisations petitioning for the RDG to reconsider ticket office closures.
Rebecca Smicle, Chief Executive for the Independent Lives charity, said: “Closing railway ticket offices would have a huge impact on disabled people and make it more difficult for them to travel independently.
“According to Government data, two thirds of rail passengers with disabilities experience problems when travelling by rail. These changes will only make the problems worse.”
All service providers in Portsmouth have clarified that measures to accommodate to disabled passengers after office closures are being reviewed.
Francesca Frith, PR and Media Manager at Govia Thameslink (Southern) Railway, said that no decisions have yet been made, and that the company was working with Transport Focus and London TravelWatch on public feedback.
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