Ian Mearns MP House of Commons
From: Baroness Falkner
London SW1A 0AA
Chairwoman, EHRC
By email only
Our ref: 1151Mearns 4 January 2023
Dear Mr Mearns, Rail staffing and accessibility Thank you for your letters of 3 November highlighting concerns about the closure of ticket offices across the rail network, a further extension of driver-only operation and the potential impact of these policies on the accessibility of the rail network for disabled and elderly people. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has a long-standing commitment to improving access to transport for disabled people. We know that, for many people, public transport provides an essential and sometimes the only means of getting to school or work. It is a critical gateway to opportunity and an important component of the Government’s own levelling up strategies. We therefore share your concerns that changes to how some rail services operate are making rail travel more inaccessible. We have received a number of reports about changes in staffing arrangements at stations and on trains, and allegations that operators are unable to provide reasonable adjustments for disabled travelers, as required by the Equality Act 2010. This includes rail services that are under contractual obligation via a National Rail contract with the Secretary of State for Transport. Arndale House, The Arndale Centre Manchester, M4 3AQ equalityhumanrights.com