'The service is bad enough, but this would be disastrous' - Anger over reports of Manchester Piccadilly ticket office closures

Train passengers in Manchester have vented their anger after reports ticket offices at hundreds of railway stations across the country could soon be closed.

The Department for Transport insisted to the Manchester Evening News that 'no final decision has been taken' despite reports closures could come into force as early as next month, when passengers would be forced to buy all tickets online or from machines.

Rail unions, too, have referenced the closure of nearly 1,000 ticket offices in a move they said would 'further de-staff the rail network' and lead to countless job losses, which they said they would fight.

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One rail user told the M.E.N. he was told the ticket offices at Manchester Piccadilly would close 'at the end of October' by a member of station staff. He said: "Having recently tried to book tickets to London which proved futile because of the industrial action, I discovered that it is proposed to shut the ticket office at the station at the end of October.

"The service is bad enough, but this would be disastrous. People need face to face contact and the train companies forcing us to use the website is wrong, as I have found out. You cannot get any answers if there is a problem. A hope that a rethink is taken though I fear that it may be too late for that."

The M.E.N., however, understands that a period of consultation would need to be carried out before the closure of any ticket office, meaning the October date appears unlikely.

Any closures have also been vehemently criticised by disability groups and charities including Age Concern.

The move is intended to save £500 million per year and was initially