I was annoyed when I heard the news that Virgin were planning to close the excellent staffed ticket office at York railway station and to put in wall mounted machines, have a “Customer zone” and alter the appearance of the railway station buildings.

Virgin claim that this is what their customers want. I totally disagree. York railway station (not “train station”) is an iconic building and should not be “modernised”.

If you are elderly, foreign, disabled, not technically switched on, or only occasionally travel by rail, it is very difficult to work out train times, routes, prices, fare deals, relevant cards, etc, unless you can speak with one of their excellent, friendly, patient, understanding staff.

Please Virgin, re-think your long term plans for York and other stations.

David Quarrie, Lynden Way, Holgate, York

Adding my voice to station dissenters

May I add my voice to those already ‘heard’ in recent issues of The Press concerning proposed “improvements” to passenger experience at York station and its ticket/enquiries office?

I hope that Sir Virgin Islander - aka Richard Branson - and his cohorts, usually keyed into good PR opportunities, will see that this plan isn’t one of them.

Even if the actual rail journey from York isn’t always up to scratch or speed, the service received in the booking office is.

The fine team of well-informed, welcoming and obliging personnel there always ensures a high quality service.

As an occasional older rail passenger, and the train service is widely used by more senior citizens, I hope the always helpful and reassuring arrangements in the booking office remain.

I wonder if such a retrograde proposal is worthy of a campaign?

Let’s hope that passenger organisations, rail unions, politicians and press & media unite in opposition.

A letter from the Lord Mayor, countersigned by representatives of all concerned parties, with a PS seeking sponsorship for Make it York’s projected balloon festival on the Knavesmire, might be the next step.

Derek Reed, Middlethorpe Drive, York