Bexhill and Battle MP, Huw Merriman, pressed for better compensation schemes for Southeastern rail users during yesterday’s Transport Select Committee with Rail Minister, Paul Maynard MP.
During the meeting on rail compensation, Huw asked the Minister whether the new bidders for the Southeastern Rail franchise would benefit from the “15 minute delay repay” that Southern customers have been able to claim since their services were severely disrupted by industrial action. Huw was pleased to hear the Minister respond that the Department for Transport will be expecting bidders to outline how they will introduce Delay Repay 15 into the passengers charter for the new franchise.
Huw went on to comment that the compensation paid to rail operators by Network Rail for delays was greater than compensation paid out to passengers who experienced the delays. He asked if the Minister if it was possible for the rail companies to ring-fence this compensation and use it to introduce automated compensation systems. The Minister responded that he expects Southeastern franchise bidders to bring forward ideas for how automated compensation could be introduced for passengers. Mr Maynard added that he understood and shared Huw’s objective for better passenger compensation systems but he was not convinced that the current compensation structure that exists between Network Rail and rail companies could be used to deliver it.
Huw then asked the Minister if automated compensation schemes could be made a requirement of the new Southeastern franchise. The Minister responded that the Department for Transport was still in the early stages of the franchise process and that they would first want to see what bidders offer in relation to this.
Speaking after the meeting Huw said “I want to make sure that the new franchise agreement for the Southeastern rail service builds in better and more accessible compensation packages for passengers. The technology for introducing automated compensation schemes already exists so I would like to see local commuters, who pay a high price for their rail tickets, get prompt and adequate compensation for disruption and delays. Many commuters complain about the difficulties in the current delay repay systems so I wanted to press the case that the new franchise would be an ideal opportunity to streamline and automate compensation claims. I would like to see all tickets become smart-cards and for passengers to touch on and off on the carriage, meaning that technology can assess delays and automatically reimburse. I’m pleased that the Minister has responded that these issues will be taken into account within the franchise process.”
In addition to pushing the Minister on Southeastern, Huw asked the Rail Minister if a further compensation scheme would be made available for Southern passengers should the experience of last year be repeated. The Minister replied that he was confident that steps were being taken to ensure this would not happen but a precedent had been set for compensation. The Minister has promised to supply Huw with the total cost to the taxpayer to date from the Southern industrial action.
