“We are sorry to announce the 11:58 CrossCountry service to Edinburgh is cancelled. The next service to Berwick-upon-Tweed and Edinburgh is the 11:58 CrossCountry service”. So advised the automated tannoy announcement at Alnmouth on 15th July 2023. Sadly, the station CIS was unable to shed any further light on the matter (see photo). Cancelled or not? What about those passengers heading for Edinburgh airport to catch a flight? Should they be rapidly trying to find a taxi or not? Fortunately, Alnmouth station is currently staffed on Saturday mornings. But if the current ticket office closure plans go ahead, that will no longer be the case after 13:00 (or after 12:00 at Morpeth). What would hapless customers do then? SENRUG believes all stations serving long-distance operators should be staffed, and will be robustly responding to the Transport Focus Ticket Office closure consultations accordingly.
