Passengers on Northern will be eligible for enhanced compensation for train delays from this December , rail minister Jo Johnson announced today .
Attending the Transport for the North board in Sheffield, Mr Johnson unveiled plans by the operator to extend the existing ‘Delay Repay’ compensation scheme to include delays of 15 minutes – known as DR15 — and longer.
Currently, passengers can claim compensation if their train is at least 30 minutes late. But from the end of this year, the extended scheme will allow claims for delays of half that, meaning passengers delayed by between 15 and 29 minutes will be able to claim back compensation worth 25% of the single fare.
Department for Transport and Transport for the North, together under the rail north partnership, are working with Northern to finalise commercial terms before implementation.
Welcoming the new, Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said:
“Along with Leaders from across the North, I have continually called on the Government to introduce Delay Repay compensation for 15 minute delays so today’s announcement is a welcome one.
“Compensation for delays of 15 to 29 minutes has been available to passengers in London and other parts of the country for some time and its introduction in the North is long overdue.
“Northern passengers have had to put up with seemingly endless misery and this move to ensure more passengers can access a greater level of compensation is the least they deserve.
“However the crisis on the North’s railways has not gone away. The Transport Secretary has said that fixing rail services in the North is his number one priority. His Department must now turn that rhetoric in to a reality.
“Passengers should not be expected to accept delays, even with greater compensation. I repeat Transport for the North’s call for a troubleshooter to bang heads together and get trains running properly across the North again. I hope we hear more on this from the Government today.”
