Gobowen rail booking facility to close

[Rail Ranger]

The privately-operated Gobowen rail booking service is to close after more than 30 years:

Gobowen rail booking service to close after more than 30 years due to falling income

Not-for-profit rail booking service Severn Dee Travel Ltd in Gobowen is to close after more than 30 years of serving the community.

www.bordercountiesadvertizer.co.uk

A not-for-profit rail booking service based near Oswestry is set to close after more than 30 years of serving the community

Severn Dee Travel Ltd, based at Gobowen Railway Station, will close on December 31, 2026.

A Facebook post stated: "Sadly, the continued rise of digital ticket-buying options, the lasting financial impact of the pandemic, and long-term changes in commuter travel patterns have reduced our income to a point where we can no longer continue...

The booking office was originally staffed by schoolgirls from Moreton Hall School, encouraged by one of their teachers the late David Lloyd.

 

[WesternLancer]

The privately-operated Gobowen rail booking service is to close after more than 30 years:

Gobowen rail booking service to close after more than 30 years due to falling income

Not-for-profit rail booking service Severn Dee Travel Ltd in Gobowen is to close after more than 30 years of serving the community.

www.bordercountiesadvertizer.co.uk

"A not-for-profit rail booking service based near Oswestry is set to close after more than 30 years of serving the community".

The booking office was originally staffed by schoolgirls from Moreton Hall School, encouraged by one of their teachers the late David Lloyd.

That’s a shame. I remember thinking it was innovative when I heard of it first opening.

 

[Bletchleyite]

That’s a shame. I remember thinking it was innovative when I heard of it first opening.

I wonder could it be made to pay if it started also selling coffee and cakes etc? Or perhaps the volunteers just feel it time to retire.

 

[Haywain]

Or perhaps the volunteers just feel it time to retire.

Or perhaps the explanation is in the article:

"Sadly, the continued rise of digital ticket-buying options, the lasting financial impact of the pandemic, and long-term changes in commuter travel patterns have reduced our income to a point where we can no longer continue."

 

[Djgr]

Or perhaps the explanation is in the article:

Indeed...and I would go for the first cause listed, certainly in the context of this location.

 

[WAB]

I don’t think many TOC booking offices would cover their costs nowadays.

 

[Haywain]

I don’t think many TOC booking offices would cover their costs nowadays.

Indeed, and volunteer directors aren't going to be in a position to maintain an unprofitable business.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Or perhaps the explanation is in the article:

Yes, it says that, but that's solely as a booking office. If the business was broadened e.g. to include premium coffees it might then pay? Or if they became a wider travel agent (people do still use them for specialist stuff)? But as I mentioned they may just see it as a handy time to wind down.

 

[pwharley]

I wonder could it be made to pay if it started also selling coffee and cakes etc? Or perhaps the volunteers just feel it time to retire.

There's already a cafe in the booking office (run by the nearby Derwen College).

Station Café in Gobowen is run by Derwen College

Station Café in Gobowen. Derwen College students train in the café and serve thousands of travellers who pass through the station each year.

www.derwen.ac.uk

The café provides work placement opportunities for students at Derwen College

The Station Café is part of Derwen College’s unique retail outlets which are open to the public, and where students learn, train and gain work skills.

There's been no announcement about it, so I imagine the building on the up platform will remain open to sell food and drink.

 

[Adam Williams]

Yes, it says that, but that's solely as a booking office. If the business was broadened e.g. to include premium coffees it might then pay? Or if they became a wider travel agent (people do still use them for specialist stuff)? But as I mentioned they may just see it as a handy time to wind down.

The coffee machine didn't save Kenilworth's independent ticket office, unfortunately. When WMT took over running it, it had gone and they no longer sold coffee. Now the space is entirely unstaffed and has been left to be vandalised.

It's a really tough market to operate in with very little (not as little as online retailers get, mind you!) commission, really - particularly when you have business rates, increased NI costs, rent etc to cover.