20 March 2025
RMT Press Office:
Rail union, RMT has welcomed the Transport Select Committee’s Access denied: rights versus reality in disabled people’s access to transport report following its inquiry into accessibility for disabled people on the transport network.
RMT gave oral evidence to the inquiry in September 2023 after the previous Government pushed plans to close nearly 1,000 ticket offices and cut around 2,300 station staff jobs.
These controversial plans were only scrapped after a massive public backlash, led by a combination of RMT, disabled and older passengers.
The Committee has now confirmed that these cuts "risked significantly damaging people’s access to the rail network."
Staff presence "is often a crucial determinant of whether safe and independent travel is possible at all" and that the "Turn Up and Go" system becomes much harder to deliver with fewer staff at stations or onboard trains, the report found.
The Committee has urged the Government to ensure that the transition to Great British Railways (GBR) does not further reduce accessibility and must remain inclusive of different passengers needs.
RMT is calling on the Government to put passenger accessibility and safety at the heart of its plans for GBR, which must include protecting and expanding ticket offices, maintaining and increasing station staff levels, and ending the practice of driver-only operation.
RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey said: “Railway staff are essential to delivering a safe and accessible network for all passengers and this report shows that.
"Ticket office closures were stopped by the strength of our campaign and the support of older and disabled passenger groups.
"It is important that passengers do not feel forced to rely solely on ticket machines or apps as they do not always meet the accessibility needs of all travellers.
"A properly staffed railway is a necessity and the Government must ensure that ticket offices remain open, continue to be adequately staff, and every train has a second safety-critical member of staff on board.
"The Government must now act to ensure Great British Railways prioritises access and safety for all.”
END
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Tagged with: RMT, Eddie Dempsey, Transport Select Committee, Staff Cuts, Accessibility
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