In an open letter to the Rail Delivery Group, the Minister called on the industry to ensure the needs of disabled people are met and emphasised that “rail must, irrespective of the circumstances, always be accessible for all”.

“Since the Government issued advice for people to avoid travel unless necessary, I have been concerned to hear from disability campaigners about a few incidents at rail stations where individual passengers were apparently refused assistance,” he wrote.

“I feel strongly that social distancing measures should not limit access in this way and would request that staff have access to clear guidance to ensure they can support all passengers using our railways.”

One report emerged last week of a disabled pharmacy worker being refused assistance to board trains three times by rail staff as she attempted to travel to and from work.

Responding to the letter, the Rail Delivery Group said it will continue to do everything it can to help people complete essential journeys safely. Staff have been issued with updated guidance for assisting people with a range of different accessibility needs, while tackling the spread of the virus, it added.

The group’s head of accessibility and inclusion Dominic Lund-Conlon said: “Supporting people with disabilities is vitally important to the railway as our front line staff work together to keep all our key workers moving.”

He also noted that, while ‘turn up and go’ services usually mean disabled people do not need to book ahead for assistance at rail stations, under the current circumstances it is “strongly recommended” that those with additional accessibility needs contact their train operator to discuss their journey.

User watchdog Transport Focus director David Sidebottom commented: “These are challenging times for people who still need to travel. But the challenge is even more acute when it comes to passengers who have a disability.

“Many disabled people are key workers who need public transport to get to work, while others need to access healthcare or go food shopping. The industry must recognise this and continue to make sure their needs are being met.”

Accessibility champion Alan Benson of campaign group Transport for All welcomed the Minister’s statement which he said reinforces the message coming from train companies.

“It's vital in the battle against this virus that everyone only travels where it's absolutely necessary, but where disabled people must travel then assistance remains key.”

Disability Rights UK chief executive Kamran Mallick said: “Disabled people like anyone else in our society live varied lives and at a time like this may be required to make essential journeys. It is vital therefore that facilities and support needed remain available.”

Chris Heaton-Harris said the Government will be working closely with regulator the Office of Rail & Road to investigate any reports of failure to provide assistance to disabled people during the Covid-19 outbreak.

(Photograph: Elisney and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence)