Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will introduce a formula to reduce rail ticket prices across the strike-affected southern region until normal service is resumed.

The government has announced a multi-million pound compensation payment for at least 84,000 Southern passengers, to recognise the particular hardship of those who have suffered long delays, cancellations and disruption in recent months. Those who qualify will receive a payment equal to one month’s travel.

This payment is in addition to the compensation scheme ‘Delay Repay 15’, under which GTR passengers will be able to claim back 25% of the cost of the single fare for delays between 15 and 29 minutes, with passengers able to apply for compensation through the train operating company.

The government has also committed to capping regulated rail fare increases at RPI+0% for the term of this Parliament from 2016 to 2020. This extends the cap on rail fares put in place for 2014 and 2015. This will benefit over a quarter of a million annual season ticket holders, providing an average saving to season ticket holders of £425 in the five years to 2020.