Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had recent discussions with Network Rail on the potential merits of amending the conditions of travel to allow passengers to purchase tickets later in their journeys when (a) they cannot purchase the correct ticket through a ticket machine at their departure station and (b) no ticket office is available.

We recognise there are a wide range of fares and tickets offered to passengers, and that not all products are offered consistently online or at ticket vending machines. Industry is looking to expand digital ticketing options and make them even easier for passengers to use through upgrades to ticket vending machines and digitisation of more tickets and processes.

When proposing major changes to ticket office opening hours (including closures), the train operating companies are required to take into account the adequacy of the proposed alternatives in relation to the needs of all passengers including tickets.

Passengers will not be expected to travel out of their way to buy a ticket and will be able to buy en route or at their destination.