Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether train operating companies are required to publish equality impact assessments of proposals to (a) close ticket offices and (b) reduce ticket office opening hours at the same time that such proposals are opened for public consultation.

Under the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement, when proposing major changes to ticket office opening hours (including closures), operators are required to take into account the adequacy of the proposed alternatives in relation to the needs of passengers who are disabled and include this in the notice of the proposal sent to other operators and passenger groups. We would also expect operators to consider other equality related needs and make this clear in their consultation.