Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they have taken to ensure that the rail sector will be compliant with the Consumer Rights Act 2015 by the earliest possible date.

It is for the rail industry to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Consumer Rights Act when the services provisions of the Act come into force. Train companies, working with the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC), are currently reviewing their working practices to ensure that this is the case. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) is a statutory enforcement body for the Consumer Rights Act for this sector.

The Department for Transport, ATOC and the ORR are working together to co-ordinate industry wide improvements in the way that rail passenger compensation schemes are publicised and administered.

The reasons for seeking the temporary 12 month exemption were published on 7 July 2016 in the Government’s response to the consultation on applying the Consumer Rights Act to the transport sector, which is attached for ease of reference.