THE 11.49am XPT train arrived at Albury station on Thursday and, when the doors opened, the platform became flooded with people.
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In the minutes before, there was a line of customers at the TicketLink desk, who wanted to purchase tickets, change travel times, check-in luggage or ask a question about their journey.
An employee will no longer sit behind that ticket desk when the 11.49am service pulls up to the platform, with job cuts to take effect in about three months.
A meeting between NSW Trains, the Rail, Tram and Bus Union and Albury station employees on Wednesday determined four of eight jobs would go.
Two full-time staff, a part-time employee and a full-time area customer service manager, who would move between three stations, would remain.
RTBU branch organiser Mick Cartwright said although the cuts were a big blow for the community, it wasn't as severe as they had thought.
His main issue was with the ticket desk hours, which he said he hoped NSW Trains would revisit.
“Hours of the station will be from 3.30am to 4pm then 8pm to 1am,” Mr Cartwright said.
“There will only be two staff on from 11.30am to 2.30pm, which means the ticket desk will close during that time.
“Trains leave at 11.50am and 12.45pm, it is quite busy and a huge number of passengers catch those trains.
“Today, the V/Line was cancelled and replaced by a bus – in that event, there will be no one at this desk to assist customers, because the two station staff will be doing other things.”
Customers have expressed concern about the ticket office, with many patrons relying on staff for purchasing tickets, particularly when differentiating between XPT and V/Line services.
The station will be unmanned between 4pm and 8pm, during which time three trains come and go.
The Border Mail understands the area customer service manager will take care of Albury, Henty and Culcairn stations but it is unknown how staff would be rostered.
Mr Cartwright said an extra part-time employee could make up numbers during the busy daytime period.
“Some of the staff are feeling a little bit better because they thought it would be worse,” he said.
“They thought everyone would be part-time.
“NSW Trains are trying to force their customers not to rely on staff here.
“They are trying to force them to use their phone or the internet, but not everyone has those things, nor does everyone have a credit card to pay over the phone or online.”
