Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether, when approving the request from Northern Rail to reduce the opening hours of the ticket office at Rotherham Central Station (a) he took into account numbers of passengers who sought information, help and use of the waiting room or toilet, (b) assumptions about patronage increase generated by the proposed tram train and (c) any other factors other than ticket sales per half hour period.

This proposal was developed by Northern Rail as part of a package of efficiency savings to reduce cost to the taxpayer. As a consultee, the Secretary of State considered whether the proposals met the criteria for a Minor Change under the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement.

(a) These factors are not routinely recorded.

(b) A new franchise will be let prior to the tram-train services commencing. It would be for the future operator to consider amending ticket office hours or station procedures as passenger demand increases.

(c) Consideration was given to possible detriment to station security or cleanliness. Following the redevelopment of Rotherham Central in 2012, CCTV cameras are in place there. These are monitored remotely by Northern Rail and by South Yorkshire PTE.

Northern was advised, in October 2014, that they should seek buy-in from major stakeholders – including the PTEs – to highlight and remove any weaknesses in their proposals. The criteria for a Minor Change were satisfied. Therefore, as the Secretary of State had no discretion in relation to the decision there was no opportunity for any effective consultation.