Trains to and from Oxford

Thu 6 Jul 2023, 15:39

I agree Matt, and why not allow that "colleague" (yes, wrong word) not only to sit in the warm and the dry, but also to offer specialist ticket advice and refunds etc.? Possible answer: because the station manager would be able to save passengers some money?

Stephen Andrews missed out one sentence from the GWR page about the proposed Charlbury Station Ticket Office closure, written in small print at the bottom of the page, namely: "Date changes to Advance Purchase tickets will not be possible after windows are closed."

In addition, not all cheap or relevant types of ticket can be bought from the Charlbury ticket machine, and I very much doubt that "colleagues" will have the specialist knowledge to advise on rovers or other cheap tickets, international tickets, or e.g. where best to cross to the Elizabeth Line if one has a senior rail card or an Oyster PAYG card, but not a London Freedom Pass. 

I can see the "colleagues" might be able to deal perfectly satisfactorily with ticket requests and enquiries from able-bodied London commuters, but doubt they will have the specialisms to advise on e.g. the best and cheapest route when e.g. travelling to North Wales (when the most direct route requires 2 separate tickets that can't be conjoined), or when elderly or disabled passengers need to know about lifts, time to change platforms at other stations and numerous other things.  Working this all out online is far from straightforward ... and I did frequently benefit the station manager's advice. 

I also note that the same mantra is recited for Oxford and also Paddington where specialist advice for tourists (and others) is particularly appreciated.

Thu 6 Jul 2023, 14:50

Surely if "Colleagues (agree John, wrong word) will move closer to customers in other locations at the station to support and assist with ticket purchases" and that "access to waiting area and toilet facilities will be unaffected,", someone will need to be on site from 6am until midday as before: they will still need to unlock and lock the building; GWR will still need to heat and light and clean and maintain the building, so why not just allow said colleague to sit in the warm, dry ticket office?

Wed 5 Jul 2023, 22:31

"Colleagues will move closer to customers .. ".  Ooh, how I hate this misuse of "colleagues". They're colleagues to each other, not to us. For us they're "staff", or somesuch of the sort.

Wed 5 Jul 2023, 20:34

Liz Puttick:

I really don't accept that "there's no need to book" if you're returning late afternoon/early evening.

It's almost unheard of these days to struggle to get a seat on trains leaving Charlbury mid-morning - but seven days a week, you really can't guarantee a seat from Paddington late afternoon/early evening without either reserving a seat or investing a great deal of mental energy in predicting which platform the train will leave from and an even greater deal of physical energy in running to grab an empty seat before everyone else does..

You'll probably get a seat anyway. But if it's worrying to run the risk of having to stand from Pad to Oxford, or you have any mobility obstacles to elbowing everyone else out of your way, it really makes no sense not to pre-reserve.  

Wed 5 Jul 2023, 20:11 (last edited on Thu 6 Jul 2023, 21:06)

The National rail app is very good to check if trains are late or cancelled. 

I am desperate to see the Cafe de la Gare reopen and get my morning coffee from there before getting on the train. 

Wed 5 Jul 2023, 18:16

Just looked at the relevant GWR proposals just published for ticket offices closure:

Charlbury: It is proposed that the Ticket Office Window will close but 'Colleagues will move closer to customers in other locations at the station to support and assist with ticket purchases'. It states that access to waiting area and toilet facilities will be unaffected, and that the opening times will be the same as present. 

Wed 5 Jul 2023, 17:13

My thanks to all of you who gave valuable information regarding my question about train cancellations. It is most useful and I’m very grateful. Thanks again.

Wed 5 Jul 2023, 17:07

Website to object to ticket office closures is here: https://www.transportforall.org.uk/campaign/ticket-office-closures/

Individual proposals are going to public consultation, but that is open for just 21 days, with little promotion or effort in making the information widely available and accessible.

The website includes a template for a letter objecting to the proposal. People are encouraged to mention particular stations and also their own experiences.

Wed 5 Jul 2023, 16:28

Perhaps somebody will open it as a micro pub. To break the journey between platform 1 and the Rose & Crown.

Wed 5 Jul 2023, 16:04

…but judging by the national news today, we may not see a staffed ticket office again. Anybody hazard an opinion as whether the building will still be accessible as a waiting area?

Wed 5 Jul 2023, 15:46

No need to book.  The ticket machine is even working!

Wed 5 Jul 2023, 13:45

Anyone know if you need to book nowadays? - going mid-morning, returning late afternoon/early evening.

Wed 5 Jul 2023, 11:17

If you use the GWR app, there is a tab on there for ‘Live Trains’ which shows upcoming trains, and if you select one it then shows whereabouts along the line it currently is.

Wed 5 Jul 2023, 10:15

This link is useful to bookmark on your computer:

https://tiger.worldline.global/CHBURY/cisds;graphic=1

Wed 5 Jul 2023, 10:03 (last edited on Wed 5 Jul 2023, 10:04)

The quickest way is to look at the listings in the top right corner of the banner picture on the home page of this web site. As I type, it is showing that the 10:11 to Oxford is cancelled.

In the longer term, one can go to Travel Information page on the GWR site and select the 'Check My Journey" tab.

Wed 5 Jul 2023, 08:56

What is the best way to find out if/when trains have been cancelled, please?