CAMPAIGNERS with a penchant for train travel are fighting to save ticket offices which could be closed under new proposals.

Ticket offices in stations in the likes of Colchester and Braintree have come under threat after train operators unveiled plans to modernise the railway.

The Government also announced earlier this week a consultation launched to consider the proposals would be extended until September.

Mark Leslie, chairman of the Kelvedon Rail Users Association, recently canvassed passengers in Kelvedon, Witham, Hatfield Peverel, and Braintree, concluding there is major opposition to the plans.

The 63-year-old, who founded the Essex Rail Users Foundation in 2005 in protest against poor services across the county, handed out leaflets to passengers and gathered rail users together so they could show their support for the facilities.

Among those likely to be affected by the closures are the elderly and the disabled, but Mr Leslie has said a lack of ticket offices would have a detrimental impact on other members of the public.

He said: "This will make life difficult for many rail users who need travel advice or to purchase more complicated tickets, such as the split tickets into London which are more difficult and time consuming to purchase from the ticket machines."

Under the plans from the Rail Delivery group, nearly 1,000 ticket offices could close, although facilities at Colchester North Station, Chelmsford, and Stansted Airport would remain open.

Mr Leslie added: “It’s alright if you live there, but if you live in Kelvedon or Witham, which is a very busy station, then you’ll have huge queues.

"The government and Greater Anglia are fully aware that thousands of houses are being built in this area and far from running down the services for rail users, they should be planning to upgrade their facilities ready for the increase in population."

A spokesman for Greater Anglia said closing ticket stations and replacing them with station colleagues will allow for a more modern and flexible service.

He said: “The aim is to create new, more flexible roles, which bring staff closer to customers and still provide the help, advice and information customers need.

“Passenger assistance arrangements would continue as they do now, from first to last trains, but with additional mobile teams to give greater flexibility in providing assistance across the network.”

Any submissions about the propoals can be submitted to TransportFocus by Friday September 1.