TORY plans to close nearly 1,000 train ticket offices amount to discrimination against disabled, older and vulnerable passengers, TSSA and the National Pensioners Convention have warned.

The rail union and pensioners’ organisation joined forces today to warn that the proposals would make rail use much more difficult for older travellers.

Convention general secretary Jan Shortt said: “Disabled, older and vulnerable people will not be able to access travel in a manner that suits their needs.

“This is discrimination, and we fail to understand how a better service can be given to rail users by excluding a potential 180 million journeys — 12 per cent of ticket office sales — from their business. 

“None of the ‘reforms’ have resulted in any improvement for passengers, and this latest proposal is the final nail in the coffin.”

TSSA interim general secretary Peter Pendle said: “Older passengers already face significant barriers to travelling by rail, and the government’s proposals will make this situation much worse.”