THE shocking rise in hate crimes against disabled rail passengers shows the need for more staff at stations and on trains, unions and campaigners said today.

Their calls came after rail union RMT’s analysis of Department for Transport (DfT) data found that the number of hate crimes towards disabled people travelling by train has risen by 24 per cent over the last three years.

The union also pointed to surveys of disabled passengers, including one conducted by the DfT itself, which found that bosses’ moves to reduce staffing levels have made people with disabilities less likely to travel by train.