Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to help ensure that vulnerable people are not put at risk in stations without ticket offices.

When proposing major changes to ticket office opening hours, including closures, operators were required to take into account the adequacy of the proposed alternatives in relation to the needs of all passengers; and to include this in the notice of the proposal sent to other operators and passenger groups. All operators prepared Equality Impact Assessments and published these on their websites.

Following the end of the consultation period the independent passenger bodies (Transport Focus and London TravelWatch) are engaging with train operators on the basis of the consultation responses they have received and the criteria they have set out. We expect train operators to work collaboratively with passenger bodies in the coming weeks, to listen to concerns raised, such as the impacts on vulnerable people, and to refine their proposals accordingly.

As the industry takes forward vital reforms, safety and accessibility remain a top priority for all. The British Transport Police continue to support the rail network to ensure the safety and security of both passengers and rail staff.