SCOTRAIL has announced plans to slash the opening hours of ticket offices at two Helensburgh and Lomond railway stations.

The train operator says changes are being made in the hope of delivering more visible customer support at stations, reflecting changing travel and ticket purchasing patterns. 

In 2021, the company published an assessment – the first of its kind since 1991 - which showed a dramatic increase in the number of tickets bought on the ScotRail website, app, or at ticket machines.

Results showed a significant decrease in customers buying at ticket offices. In the past 10 years alone, there has been a 50 per cent drop in ticket office sales.

Helensburgh Central and Cardross stations will see their opening hours cut if the plans, set to affect stations across Scotland, are approved.

ScotRail says there will be no job losses or redundancies as a result of its proposals.

Where ticket offices see reduced hours, according to ScotRail, staff will carry out other customer supporting duties within their existing job description, such as ticket barrier duties and revenue protection.

Customers will benefit from increased staff visibility, helping with ticket selling/inspection and tackling anti-social behaviour as well as receive improved support through platform help points, with advice available on buying tickets.

The train operator says the changes are expected to be implemented in 2025.

At Helensburgh Central the proposal is to cut opening hours to 5.55am-7pm Monday-Friday, 7am-7pm on Saturday, and 7.30am-10.30pm on Sunday.

The station office's current opening hours are 5.55am-midnight Monday-Saturday, and 7.50am-11.45pm on Sunday.

At Cardross, the plan is to change the office opening hours to 7.15am-9.45am Monday-Thursday, 7.15am-10.15am on Friday, and closed on Saturday and Sunday.

Under the current opening hours, the office is only closed on a Sunday, and open from 7.25am-2.15pm Monday-Saturday.

Phil Campbell, ScotRail's 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."