 Birmingham New Street to York Machine: £79.10 Office: £57.30 Worcester Foregate Street to Crewe return Machine: £55.20 Office: £32, as the staff can issue a West Midlands Day Tripper, whereas the machine can only offer an open return.){kind=link}
A Mirror analysis shows several routes are much more expensive when using the ticket machine compared with the office, as staff are able to advise on the cheapest fare
Passengers will struggle to buy the cheapest rail fares when hundreds of ticket offices close. Staff have been warned of 2,000 job cuts as they told how they help people get better deals.
But plans to axe offices, which includes the home of George the cat in Stourbridge, West Mids, may put this in jeopardy.
A worker at Birmingham’s Five Ways station said: “It’s fine if a commuter wants a straight-forward ticket but if they want to make a long-distance journey the machine fare isn’t always the best option.”
Rail user John Roberts said the ticket machine at Nailsea & Blackwell in Somerset does not offer a £62 off-peak single for the 08.15 to London Paddington and only shows the peak fare of £130.50.