Rail chaos spurs call for further payouts
“Travellers on Northern services on routes in Lancashire, Cumbria and Greater Manchester have suffered disruption over a long period of time due to delays to improve the line between Manchester and Blackpool and many cancellations and delays following the implementation of a new timetable on May 20.
“Weekly, monthly and annual season ticket holders who held tickets for the period affected will receive a refund equivalent to the cost of four weeks’ travel.
“Season ticket holders on both ● Northern and TransPennine Express services on the worst affected routes elsewhere in the North who have suffered disruption since the introduction of the new May timetable will receive a refund equivalent to a week’s worth of travel.
“The package agreed at today’s meeting will also include a marketing campaign to promote tourist hotspots such as the Lake District and Blackpool which have been adversely affected by the rail disruption.
“It is expected that the agreed compensation scheme will be imple- mented rapidly, following agreement from the Rail North Partnership, and will be delivered directly by the train operating companies.
“This compensation is on top of the pre-existing delay repay scheme and will also apply to season ticket holders who hold multi-modal travel tickets. Further details will be released by the Train Operating Companies.”
John Cridland, chairman of Transport For The North, said: “We know that the past few months have been very frustrating for many northerners, with those who regularly travel by train being heavily affected.
“The Transport For The North board has been pressing the rail industry to adequately compensate those who have suffered the most.
“I’m delighted that we are now able to start doing this but there is still more work to be done.
“Compensation for season ticket holders will be administered directly by the train operating companies, with Northern and TransPennine Express due to announce details of how people can claim very soon.”
Cllr Ian Gillies of City Of York Council and Cllr Samantha Dixon of Cheshire West And Chester Council were elected vice-chairs of Transport for the North. ● THE Review into the Rail North Partnership, co-chaired by Cllr Judith Blake of Leeds City Council and minister of state for transport Jo Johnson MP, will be discussed at the next Transport For The North board meeting in September.