Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations his Department has received on whether rail companies amend rail operating timetables to avoid paying delay repay claims.

Compensation for delays is provided by Train Operating Companies (TOCs) in accordance with their published Passenger’s Charter and is measured against the timetable in operation on the day of travel. Recently the SWR timetable has had to be amended to mitigate the impact of the RMT strikes, but SWR are required to publicise these changes in advance of the day in question.

If a train is cancelled or delayed and a passenger has an Off-Peak, Super Off-Peak, Advance, or anytime ticket and decides not to travel, they will be entitled to a full refund of their ticket. If delays occur on the day compared to the temporary timetable in place, then passengers will be entitled to claim Delay Repay compensation for delays of 15 minutes or more on SWR.