Hertfordshire passengers stand to lose hundreds of hours of staff time at their stations.

With hours to go until a consultation on ticket office closures ends, council leaders have condemned plans to shut kiosks and reduce staffed hours throughout the county.

In west Hertfordshire, some towns are set to lose dedicated teams entirely.

Under plans detailed by London Northwestern Railway, Tring, Berkhamsted, Hemel Hempstead, Apsley and Kings Langley will be staffed by mobile teams “on a flexible basis”.

Some stations will have a greater number of staffed hours, with a 24-hour presence at Bishop’s Stortford and a late morning and early evening presence in Broxbourne, Hitchin and Harpenden.

The Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents rail firms, said the plans will lead to “customer-focused stations”.

But councillors have rushed to voice their objections to the plans, including Watford Central's Marilyn Devonish, who raised concerns about women’s safety.

“When I’m coming back at two o’clock in the morning, there is a sense of relief there are staff at that station,” the Liberal Democrat councillor said.

“It’s one of the things which acts as a deterrent.”

Watford Junction is one of four Hertfordshire stations which will have a “customer information centre” where staff will be on hand throughout the week – along with St Albans City, Stevenage and Welwyn Garden City.

RDG chief executive said just 12 per cent of tickets are sold at kiosks on average today.

“Our proposals would mean more staff on hand on to give face to face help with a much wider range of support, from journey planning, to finding the right ticket and helping those with accessibility needs,” Jacqueline Starr, RDG chief executive, said.

She said the industry has “widely sought” the views of accessibility and passenger groups.

The consultations are on the Transport Focus and London TravelWatch websites.

Ticket offices due to close

Avanti West Coast, Greater Anglia, Great Northern, LNER, London Northwestern Railway, Stansted Express and Thameslink stops will be affected by the changes.

In addition to ticket office closures, some ticket assistance hours might change.

Ticket offices closures and the new arrangements are:

London Marylebone – Staff on the platform.

London Euston – Ticket office to shut but support available 6am until 10pm weekdays and Saturdays, and 7am until 10pm on Sundays.

Kings Langley – New mobile team and new “touch in touch out” contactless travel.

Apsley – New mobile team and new “touch in touch out” contactless travel.

Hemel Hempstead – New mobile team and new “touch in touch out” contactless travel.

Berkhamsted – New mobile team and new “touch in touch out” contactless travel.

Tring – New mobile team and new “touch in touch out” contactless travel.

Elstree & Borehamwood – Staff on the platform.

Radlett – Staff on the platform.

Harpenden – Staff on the platform.

Luton – Staff on the platform.

Potters Bar – Staff on the platform.

Brookmans Park – Staff on the platform.

Welham Green – Staff on the platform.

Hatfield – Staff on the platform.

Welwyn North – Staff on the platform.

Knebworth – Staff on the platform.

Cuffley – Staff on the platform.

Hertford North – Staff on the platform.

Watton-at-Stone – Staff on the platform.

Hitchin – Staff on the platform.

Letchworth – Staff on the platform.

Baldock – Staff on the platform.

Ashwell & Morden – Staff on the platform.

Royston – Staff on the platform.

Waltham Cross – Staff on the platform on weekdays and Saturdays. Mobile team on Sundays.

Cheshunt – Staff on the platform.

Broxbourne – Staff on the platform.

Rye House – Staff on the platform on weekdays and Saturdays. Mobile team on Sundays.

St Margarets – Staff on the platform on weekdays and Saturdays. Mobile team on Sundays.

Ware – Staff on the platform.

Hertford East – Staff on the platform on weekdays and Saturdays. Mobile team on Sundays.

Harlow Town – Staff on the platform.

Sawbridgeworth – Staff on the platform.

Bishop’s Stortford – Staff on the platform 24 hours a day.