DISABILITY activists offered a “profound thank you” to rail union RMT yesterday over its fight to keep guards on trains.

Doug Paulley, of Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC), told the union’s AGM that the destaffing of Britain’s railways was having a “disproportionate effect on disabled people.”

His campaign group has regularly campaigned alongside striking rail workers as they protest against the imposition of driver-only trains.

Mr Paulley also stressed the need for station staff, saying DPAC had produced a map showing that many supposedly accessible stations are in fact not.

“A station is only step-free if there’s somebody there to put the ramp down,” he said.

“When things go wrong … that’s when guards are incredibly important to me.

“In an emergency, if there’s something going on with anti-social behaviour, I’m really stuck.”

He said the new role of onboard supervisor on Southern rail — which the RMT has fought through strike action — had led to workers “sometimes [being] removed to work on ticket duties.”