COUNCILLORS have called for a ticket machine to be installed at Newquay Train Station.

Newquay Town Council has voted to write to Great Western Railway requesting the facility is put in place as soon as possible, particularly for passengers who have been instructed to pick up their rail tickets.

Deputy mayor Sarah Thomson put the issue on the authority’s agenda after having to drive to Bodmin Train Station to pick up the tickets she ordered.

Newquay Cornwall councillor Joanna Kenny backed the call stating the ticket office at Newquay Train Station had been “closed by stealth.”

Newquay Town Council discussed the issue at its meeting held on Wednesday, October 1.

Cllr Thomson said: “I noted earlier in the year when I bought my rail tickets online and went to the train station and there was no ticket machine to pick them up from. Considering Newquay is the largest town in Cornwall that is shocking.

“I do think with the station development there is meant to be machine that is coming along but I would like a letter coming from Newquay Town Council to reinforce that message that we want a ticket machine going in asap.

“The reliance on picking your tickets on the train I don’t think is very satisfactory. Coming into Newquay to train station to pick up my tickets was a waste of time and a waste of a journey. There is no ticket office either. I instead had to go to Bodmin.

“Normally I would have my ticket on my phone but in this instance and other instances it doesn’t give you that option. It stated you had to pick your tickets up.”

Councillor Joanna Kenny added: “I entirely agree. It was last year or maybe the year before when there was this big to do about the closure of ticket offices and everybody campaigned. Newquay wasn’t one of the ticket offices that were being closed.

“The reason was because I think Newquay still has a ticket office. They just don’t man it.

“So, they’ve actually closed it by stealth. I think it’s disgraceful we haven’t got a ticket office either. Whether you can have a ticket machine when you haven’t got a ticket office I don’t know.

“I think it’s disgraceful that this has happened to our rail station. We do have an opportunity with the Mid Cornwall Metro. Maybe that will allow us to get our ticket office back.”

Mayor Cllr Drew Creek said: “I don’t disagree but when I was down at the station a few days ago I noted that they have these new tap and go systems already in place though they are not active.

“Presumably they have been installed in readiness for the Mid Cornwall Metro where you take your card and tap and go and it’s supposed to get you the cheapest available rate, which I’m sure will work well between here and Par, here and Truro and Falmouth eventually. As far as travelling further afield to Exeter and London I’m not sure that will work.”