Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of reduced levels of train station staffing on people with disabilities.

The Plan for Rail sets out the industry’s ambition to move staff from behind the ticket office screens to help passengers wherever they are at the station and so to provide a better service. Moving staff from ticket offices to more visible and accessible roles around stations can help passengers more, which is crucial for those who need additional support. The industry recognises station staff are beneficial for passengers’ safety, and no currently staffed stations will become unstaffed as a result of this reform.

Ministers have been engaging closely with the rail industry as it develops staffing and retailing reforms and have been working with the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) and other passenger advocacy groups to ensure any impact on passengers is considered. Train and station operators are required by their operating licences to establish and comply with an Accessible Travel Policy (ATP) which must be approved by the Office of Rail and Road, the independent regulator. An ATP sets out, among other things, the arrangements and assistance that an operator will provide to protect the interests of disabled people using its services and to facilitate such use.