A disabled beer lover has called on the government to reconsider plans to shut ticket offices and remove platform staff at all train stations.

Steven Fenn (pictured), who has muscular atrophy type two and is reliant on a wheelchair, has also pleaded for people to sign a petition so the proposed law can be debated in parliament. 

Colchester, Essex-based Fenn travels the country to find new beers, but fears the measures could leave him stranded on train platforms and make him and other wheelchair users decide against travelling to pubs.

Even now spontaneity is difficult for wheelchair users like Fenn, due to the difficulties of navigating the train network.

He said: “I can never wake up and think it is a nice day, why not go for a trip to a few London pubs and return whenever I wish.

“Despite pre-booking using the passenger assistance app, the staff are frequently not there and the person who I am with has to put their foot in the door and hold the train up, and this is often met with abuse from other passengers.”

Fenn needs platform staff to help him on to trains and to bring ramps. On one occasion in Colchester station there wasn’t anyone to help him, and the driver claimed he “wasn’t trained” to perform the task.

He wasn’t permitted to travel on the train and had to wait for another to complete his journey.

“This doesn't just affect wheelchair users, it affects anyone who requires assistance, such as the visually impaired.

“Staff reductions would seriously affect me, for example, I went to Highbury and Islington [in North London] and the lift was out of order. If there is no staff on the platform, who and how do I contact somebody to report this?"

Fenn’s biggest fear is being left stranded on a train platform with no access to street level.

He added: “Staff being reduced would impact my decision to use train travel because the hassle and worry outweighs the enjoyment of the day.

“The option of travelling by road is not the preferred route as the driver who is with me cannot then partake in the enjoyment of drinking in the pubs.”

The current plans could see 2,000 jobs lost with 974 out of 1,007 railway station ticket offices closed, with a disability rights expert calling it “a slippery slope to unmanned stations”.

The government has said: “The rail industry must modernise to provide the service passengers deserve, moving staff from behind the ticket office screens. Train operators are consulting passengers on the proposed changes.”