Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 24 January 2017 to Question HL4534, on railways: disabilities, how many and what proportion of train operating companies which run stations in northern England have assured him that all their stations on train lines operating driver-only operation will be staffed at all hours of operation; and what discussions he has had with those train operating companies on staffing levels.

The staffing level at a station does not abrogate a train operating company of its legal duty to make reasonable adjustments to provide assistance to those passengers who request it. There is no requirement for all stations, whether or not they are called at by driver only operated trains, to be staffed from first until last train; however the Northern franchise agreement stipulates some staffing levels at stations, the details of which are in the public domain.