Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the number of train tickets sold for cancelled trains in the last six (a) months and (b) years for which data is available; and what steps he is taking to ensure that those tickets are refunded.

The Department has not made an estimate of the number of train tickets sold for cancelled trains.

If a train is cancelled passengers can get a full refund, including for Advance tickets, if they decide not to travel, and passengers are able to use their train ticket on the next available train operated by that train operating company (TOC). During times of disruption operators often allow passengers to use their tickets on services operated by other TOCs, but these agreements are managed locally.

Many DfT-contracted TOCs have put in place systems whereby passengers who have purchased through their websites are notified if the train they have booked has been cancelled. Third party retailers will operate their own alert systems for their customers. The Department continues to work with industry to improve communication with passengers during times of disruption.