Ian Mearns MP Working for Gateshead
12 Regent Terrace, Gateshead, NE8 1LU
Baroness Falkner of Margravine Chair, Equality and Human Rights Commission Windsor House 50 Victoria Street London SW1H 0TL By email to: correspondence@equalityhumanrights.com 3rd November 2022 Dear Lady Falkner, Rail staffing and accessibility We are writing to you in light of recent reports regarding the likely widespread closure of ticket offices and a further extension of Driver Only Operation across the rail network, and the potential impact of these policies on the accessibility of the rail network for disabled and elderly people. We are concerned that ticket office closures and an extension of DOO could lead to a destaffing of the rail network, which in turn could mean that train operators are unable to meet their duties under equalities legislation regarding access to public transport for disabled and elderly people. As you may be aware, the potential impact of such transport policies on accessibility was recognised by the then Chair of the EHRC in 2019 in correspondence to the Chair of the Transport Select Committee in which he stated: ““…the impact of ongoing transport policies remains a concern, in particular the move to driver only operated (DOO) trains, as well as reductions in staffed stations. We believe that the shift to DOO trains, with the increased likelihood of there being no second member of staff on board to assist passengers, and a decrease in staffed stations could represent a diminution of protection for disabled people, and potentially be a breach of the Equality Act 2010.”
House of Commons Palace of Westminster Westminster SW1A 0AA