Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will exempt Southern and Thameslink passengers affected by the disruption caused by the May 2018 timetable changes from the 3.1 per cent fare increase due in January 2019.

It is absolutely right that passengers are compensated for the disruption they have suffered. We have worked with GTR to establish a special compensation scheme, funded by industry, which is now being delivered. Over £15 million has been paid out so far to over 60,000 passengers. This is in addition to the normal delay repay scheme which, on GTR, compensates passengers for any delay of 15 minutes or more. This compensation provides the equivalent of up to 8% of the cost of an annual season ticket for those most severely impacted.

This compensation is more effective and targeted than a blanket 3.1% fares freeze, and benefits passengers more. This scheme means, for example, that a commuter from St Albans buying a monthly season ticket will have received around £350 in compensation, rather than saving around £120 on the cost of their season ticket.