RESIDENTS have said they are 'over the moon' that the ticket office will stay open at Basingstoke railway station after closure plans were scrapped.

The government confirmed on Tuesday, October 31 that plans to close railway ticket offices in England have been scrapped.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said that the U-turn came about because the proposals “did not meet the high thresholds” of serving rail passengers.

As previously reported in July, industry body the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) revealed proposals that could have led to nearly all offices being shut to cut costs, with facilities only staying open at the busiest stations.

READ MORE: Train ticket offices to stay open as closure plans scrapped

The news about the U-turn has been welcomed by residents in Basingstoke. 

Basingstoke Gazette: Pamela said she is over the moon.Pamela said she is over the moon. (Image: Newsquest)

Pamela Nicholas, who lives in Basingstoke and uses the ticket office regularly, told the Gazette she was "over the moon" to hear the good news. 

The 68-year-old said: "We are all really happy about it. It is also great that people who work in the ticket offices get to keep their jobs to pay for the cost of living and everything. 

"My neighbour works for the trains and he is really happy about it. I don't like those ticket machines because I am now retired and don't like computer systems, to me they are no good. It is alright for the youngsters and everything because they have grown up with it."

Husband and wife Val and Colin, from Fleet, often use the station at Basingstoke and shared a similar view.

Val said: "The news that the ticket office is always going to be one is happy news as far as we are concerned.

"I can't use the machines so if I came here and I couldn't use the ticket office I would probably just have to go home."

Colin said if he had to use the machines he would need to ask someone to help him.

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"Even this morning when we got the train we booked online and when we got here we still had to get our tickets and were told we could use the machines, but we wanted to do it at the office. So buying online saves no time," he added.

The pair said it was good to see something staying open.

Basingstoke Gazette: Val and ColinVal and Colin (Image: Newsquest)

The news has also been welcomed by the leader of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Cllr Paul Harvey.

He said: “We welcome the news that the government has U-turned on the closure of rail station ticket offices. While it is reported that there might be ‘quiet fury’ in the industry over the U-turn, it is clearly the right decision and it is positive to know the strength of feeling expressed in our community, and in many others, has been respected by the Secretary of State." 

"While the government originally signed off the proposal to close railway ticket offices, it appears to have woken up to public opinion on this. For Basingstoke, if this means we keep our ticket office then that is a good outcome we can welcome."