Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the establishment of Great British Railways on the statutory duty to consult with the public on any significant change to Schedule 17 of the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement.

Train operating companies are expected to maintain the ticket office opening hours set out in Schedule 17 to the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement (TSA). When a train operator proposes a "major change" to opening hours, they are required to undertake a consultation as set out in the TSA.

The processes set out in Schedule 17 of the TSA will continue to apply as operators transfer into public ownership. Importantly, any changes to the TSA can only be made with wider agreement across the industry, providing a strong level of protection and ensuring that established safeguards cannot be unilaterally altered.