Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to improve staff support for rail passengers with mobility challenges.

The Department is committed to ensuring that measures are in place for supporting passengers with additional needs, including those with mobility challenges on the rail network. As promised in the Inclusive Transport Strategy, we are supporting the Rail Delivery Group to improve the Passenger Assist system, including creating a new application for mobile phones that would be used for booking assistance.

The Department also worked with the Office of Rail and Road to review the Disabled People’s Protection Policy guidance, now known as the Accessible Travel Policy guidance. The revised guidance includes strengthened provisions for staff support for disabled passengers.