Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the Northern Rail compensation scheme.

The rail industry is funding a special compensation scheme in addition to the normal Delay Repay arrangements. Northern and TransPennine Express (TPE) have already announced the compensation scheme for season ticket holders. Transport for the North will decide the details of any further compensation arrangements with Northern and TPE.

Transport for the North has agreed that the special compensation should cover weekly, monthly and annual season ticket holders on the worst affected routes who experienced severe disruption before and after the May timetable change. Eligible passengers will receive a cash payment equivalent to up to one month’s travel. This is equivalent to the compensation package for GTR customers. Season ticket holders in other parts of the north that have been badly affected since the introduction of the May timetable will be eligible to receive a cash payment equivalent to one week’s travel. This will be in addition to the standard existing compensation to which passengers are entitled.