Passengers fear a railway station ticket office in North Yorkshire is facing the end of the line.

Scores of people have signed a petition calling for the office at Thirsk station to stay open on afternoons, after rumours circulated that closure was being mooted by Regional Railways North East.

Campaigners claim afternoon closure would leave passengers unable to buy tickets or make inquiries, and leave vulnerable children returning home from school or college in York or elsewhere unable to get help if they get into difficulties. They also fear it would be the "thin end of the wedge", with total closure of the office or even of the station following later.

Regional Railways North East has declined to confirm or deny whether afternoon closure of the office was being mooted, but a spokesman said that any proposal to reduce ticket office opening hours would have to be put to the Office of the Rail Regulator - and the company had made no such application.

The spokesman added that there was no doubt about the future of the station. "It's an important part of the network."

More than 90 customers at the Old Red House pub, just across the road from the station, have signed a petition calling for the office to remain open all day long.

Landlord and petition organiser Anthony Degazon said he feared temporary closure would be the "thin end of the wedge" and be followed by total closure, of the ticket office if not the station itself.

He felt that even afternoon closure of the office would cause major problems, particularly on race days at the nearby Thirsk Racecourse. Another objector, Barbara Vokes, of Baldersby, said: "I think it would just be another reduction in services for the area. We want to encourage people to go by rail. This would discourage them."

Her husband, Graham, said: "The real worry is that this would be the first step to closing the station."

Judy Davidson, of Sowerby, said: "It's very important to the community. It should be kept open."

Leaflets posted on cars at the station warn: "There are also many people whose children travel to York for school and college, and it is reassuring for those parents, especially of younger children, to know that the station is manned and there is somewhere for their child to get help if they get into difficulties."

see COMMENT: Rural stations have a vital role

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