Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many rail ticket machines are in operation; and how many and what proportion of these machines accept (a) debit and credit cards and (b) cash.

Of stations managed by DFT contracted Train Operating Companies, around 84% have ticket vending machines with more than 3,200 machines in total at these stations. The Department does not hold information on the proportion of these machines which accept cash however industry have advised that the majority accept cash. We will continue to ensure that all passengers who need to use cash, or do not have access to a smartphone or the internet, can buy a ticket.