A CONSULTATION on proposals to close Clydebank railway station's ticket office, and to slash the opening hours of similar facilities elsewhere, has closed - despite pleas for an extension.

Members of West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) backed a call this week from council leader Jonathan McColl to seek an extension to the consultation deadline.

But ScotRail confirmed on Wednesday that the 21-day consultation, which opened on January 12, had closed on Wednesday as planned.

The proposal to shut the Clydebank station's ticket office completely sparked a furious response from politicians and residents who raised concern at the implications of the station being left unstaffed, especially at night.

Clydebank Post: The station, in the centre of Clydebank, could be closedThe station, in the centre of Clydebank, could be closed

At an emergency meeting of WDC on Monday, councillors unanimously backed a call to ask chief executive Joyce White to affirm in writing the authority's opposition to ScotRail's proposals.

Councillor Douglas McAllister (Labour, Kilpatrick) said: "We all know that tickets can be bought online, it's more than just that. Staff play a vital role in reducing anti-social and criminal behaviour at our stations.

"They play a vital role in giving passengers assistance and advice in relation to travel. A staffed station is a safe station.

"A closed ticket office is a closed station. And therefore an unsafe station for the old, for our young people, for women, for the vulnerable and for all of us."

Councillor McColl told Monday's meeting: "A three-week consultation is nonsense. In fact the way ScotRail are consulting is nonsense."

A ScotRail spokesperson confirmed to the Post that the consultation had closed, as scheduled, on Wednesday.

Scotrail instructed independent transport watchdog Transport Focus to conduct the consultation and they have been collating responses.

Read More: Clydebank rail station: Call to scrap 'dangerous' ticket office plans

Phil Campbell, head of customer operations at Scotrail, said: “There has been no real review of our ticket office opening hours for 30 years, and it is important we keep up with the changing habits of customers who no longer rely on purchasing tickets in that way.

“With more than a 50 per cent drop in the use of ticket offices, heightened by the pandemic, we want to do everything we can to make sure everyone has a hassle-free journey.

“Nobody in ScotRail will lose their jobs as a result of these changes, and it is important to note that rather being about cutting jobs, this is about adding value for our staff and customers.

“Throughout this consultation we’ve been talking to customers, staff, and stakeholders about the improvements they can expect to see and experience as they travel around Scotland’s railway.”

Transport Focus said they would comment in full once responses had been collated.