Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of closing train station ticket offices in Battersea on the (a) safety and (b) accessibility of passenger rail travel in Battersea.

Industry is looking to make TVMs easier for passengers to use through upgrades and digitisation of more tickets and processes. Some TVMs have already been fitted with remote assistance facilities which can host a call with a remote ticket sales agent who can input customer requirements. Staff will remain available to help passengers to use TVMs or their own devices to purchase tickets.

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. This includes ensuring that passengers can easily buy the right ticket for the journey they want to make, with consideration of the product range available at the station and what support is available to help with purchase.