The Ticket Office
Hassocks is listed as one of the stations where GTR plans to have a ticket office open only during peak travel times. For the rest of the day (from the arrival of the first train to the departure of the last) there will be a member of staff on duty (a ‘station host’) who will be available on the concourse. He or she will be able to issue tickets using an upgraded hand-held device, answer queries, help with the automatic ticket machines, and be a general, friendly, human source of contact. If adopted, we are likely to be in the third tranche of stations affected, but at present there is no definite information.
Lift Closure
From 17th August for approximately 4 weeks, the lifts were out of action due to the failure of the telephone emergency call system. During this period, HAA was regularly and fruitlessly in touch with the rail managers. The delay seems to have been due to lack of communication between Southern’s facilities and IT departments. The problems were resolved on 14th September and the lifts are now working. We find it surprising that there appears to be no procedure in place to reinstate a safety provision within, say, 48 hours.
HAA continues to be in contact with Nick Herbert, MP who is actively engaged in monitoring the wider issues of station management and resources, and will be discussing this further with Catherine Cassidy in the light of our experience at Hassocks.
Hassocks is listed as one of the stations where GTR plans to have a ticket office open only during peak travel times. For the rest of the day (from the arrival of the first train to the departure of the last) there will be a member of staff on duty (a ‘station host’) who will be available on the concourse. He or she will be able to issue tickets using an upgraded hand-held device, answer queries, help with the automatic ticket machines, and be a general, friendly, human source of contact. If adopted, we are likely to be in the third tranche of stations affected, but at present there is no definite information.
Lift Closure
From 17th August for approximately 4 weeks, the lifts were out of action due to the failure of the telephone emergency call system. During this period, HAA was regularly and fruitlessly in touch with the rail managers. The delay seems to have been due to lack of communication between Southern’s facilities and IT departments. The problems were resolved on 14th September and the lifts are now working. We find it surprising that there appears to be no procedure in place to reinstate a safety provision within, say, 48 hours.
HAA continues to be in contact with Nick Herbert, MP who is actively engaged in monitoring the wider issues of station management and resources, and will be discussing this further with Catherine Cassidy in the light of our experience at Hassocks.