A travel and transport union are warning proposed reduced booking office opening hours could have major repercussions.

It follows a Scotrail announcement detailing potential new ticket office hours following a review of ticket sales and usage.

Many stations will be effected by the changes including Ardrossan South beach, with proposed hours changing from 0635-1215 Monday-Thursday, 0700-1715 on Fridays, 0815-1630 on Saturdays and 1000-1400 on Sundays.

Nearby Saltcoats would reduce to 0645-1200 Monday-Thursday, 07300-1415 on Fridays, 0815-1600 on Saturdays and 1015-1300 on a Sunday.

Kilwinning would see a smaller reduction to 0640-2000 Monday-Saturday and 0850-1900 on Sundays.

Glengarnock station’s office would remain closed on Sundays while opening from 0710-1050 Monday-Thursday with a later closing time of 1150 on a Friday.

Saturdays would see the ticket office open 0910-1350.

Union Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association General Secretary, Manuel Cortes, said: “This is completely the wrong step for growing numbers on Scotland’s railway.

"Closing booking offices and/or reducing their opening hours is a retrograde step.

“Booking office staff don’t just sell tickets, they help passengers on and off the trains and they keep stations safe for passengers – by salting and gritting platforms at this time of the year and by discouraging anti-social behaviour.

“ScotRail’s plans will make the railways feel less safe, particularly for women, especially in the darker months, and will result in an increase in anti-social behaviour. ”

Scotrail said it was not a revenue driven decision, adding: “No staff will lose their jobs and will instead be redeployed to provide enhanced customer service.”