Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will carry out an assessment of the effectiveness of Network Rail's assistance service for passengers at London Euston; and if he will make a statement.

Train and station operators are required by their operating licences to establish and comply with a disabled people's protection policy (DPPP). This must be approved by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), the independent regulator of the railways, which took over responsibility for approving and monitoring DPPPs from the Department in October 2013.

A DPPP sets out the arrangements and assistance that an operator will provide to protect the interests of disabled people using its services and to facilitate such use. Network Rail has a DPPP setting out the assistance it will provide at London Euston and at the other 17 stations it manages.

If there is evidence that Network Rail is not achieving good outcomes for passengers this should be referred to Network Rail so they can put it right, or to ORR if it is not resolved. ORR can take a number of steps where it finds evidence that there is a problem, including, ultimately, following its enforcement policy where other means have failed.

I have contacted Network Rail on this point who have informed me that they offer a free mobility assistance service to all passengers that feel they need an extra hand during their travel to and from Euston station. This includes help boarding and alighting trains, assistance with onward journeys on other forms of transport, access to the station toilets and access to the first class lounge. This service does not include assistance to and from the shops on the concourse. Mobility assistance vehicles are available, seating a maximum of three people.