Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to require train operators to allow passengers to travel on the next available train when if their train is cancelled, regardless of which train operating company is operating that train.

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.