Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government issued guidance to Train Operating Companies to commence consulting on ticket offices.

The Government has asked train operators to reduce the cost of the industry to the taxpayer given the dire financial situation facing the railways; as well as ensuring staff are deployed where they are most needed by passengers. As a result, operators have considered potential reforms, including at stations and in July 2023 commenced consultations using the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement (TSA) process, which train operating companies must follow when proposing changes to the opening hours or closure of a ticket office. The proposals are industry led and this is a real opportunity to update and improve the way train operators deliver for customers. We expect train operators to continue to work collaboratively with the passenger bodies to refine their proposals