Ticket office closures

I REFER to your article by Industry Update on page 12 of the September issue, and in particular the final paragraphs about digital technology and ticket office closures, both of which we and the disability movement are fighting tooth and nail.

Disability Rights UK is concerned about rail staff reduction and redeployment plans which could, according to news released by the Association of British Commuters, be in breach of the Equality Act of 2010.

Some of the plans will lead to train ticket offices in England being shut down and we are clear that such a move would make rail travel for many disabled and older passengers virtually impossible, particularly for those with limited or no smart phone access and for those who need support when obtaining tickets and journey information.

In the ongoing work DR UK is undertaking with the rail industry, we will be pressing at the very least for each and every ticket office closure to have a full impact assessment, rather than an arbitrary cost and staff reduction. Stephen Brookes MBE

Rail Policy Adviser, Disability Rights UK.