Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been asked to intervene as a matter of urgency to stop Northallerton railway station becoming a "rural halt" amid fears its ticket office could close. 

Transpennine Express, which runs the station, has said no redundancy notices have been issued and it has no plans, at this stage, to make any stations unstaffed.

However rail user John Rennilson, who lives in the town, has written to Mr Sunak as Richmond MP, saying any proposal to close the ticket office would be impossible to reverse.

A spokesperson for Transpennine Express said: “As an industry we continuously seek ways to deliver the most effective and efficient railway for our customers.

“Alongside all other train operators, we are looking at a number of options to deliver efficiencies, one of these options is to look at the operation of station booking offices. At this stage, no decisions have been taken.”

In his letter to Mr Sunak, Mr Rennilson voices concerns about the future of the ticket office, writing: “Only a selection of tickets can be purchased from the machine in the tunnel, when it actually is in working order. Yes, most but not all tickets can be purchased on the internet but the railway ticketing system is complicated and many people, including myself, have needed and benefitted from advice on services and the most appropriate ticket from friendly staff face to face.

“Also as a station without staff, who will help the disabled to get on and off trains? Are travellers to be subjected to standing out in the cold and wet at the highest point in town because the waiting rooms are to be permanently locked shut to avoid vandalism at an unmanned station? Recently, Thornaby station waiting room was vandalised when it was left open but the station unmanned.

“Along with TPE no longer stopping the Newcastle to Liverpool service at Northallerton from next month and LNER still proposing to remove the Northallerton stop on services to Scotland, this town in the heart of your constituency will be treated by the railway companies as no more than a rural halt.

“I certainly remember sharing the waiting room with amongst others your predecessor and perhaps you used the station whilst a backbench MP. What are you going to do about this? It needs urgent action or it will be a fait accompli and impossible to reverse.”

A spokesman for Rishi Sunak said he had received Mr Rennilson’s correspondence and the MP was raising the issue with Transpennine Express.