Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the combined impact of the (a) reduction in ticket office opening hours and (b) removal of ticket machines at railways stations on the accessibility of (i) railcard and (ii) discounted tickets.

The Department expects operators to consider the impact on passengers when proposing changes to retailing arrangements. These may include changes to ticket office opening hours, ticket machine provision, or the availability of products and services such as railcards and discounted tickets. Where operators propose changes to regulated ticket office hours, they must follow the relevant requirements set out in the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement and have regard to the Secretary of State's guidance when proposing changes.

In considering changes, operators are expected to ensure that passengers continue to have access to tickets, information and support, including railcards and discounted tickets, through alternative retail channels.