Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of launching a compensation scheme for passengers without seat reservations who did not get a seat on a train.

There are currently no plans to introduce compensation for passengers unable to find a seat.

The walk-up nature of the railway in Great Britain supports full access to rail services, but at busy times could mean seating is not guaranteed. Some train operators offer seat reservations up to two hours before the departure of a train.

If a passenger holds a First-Class ticket and no First-Class seats are available, they are entitled to a refund of the difference between the fare paid and that of the appropriate Standard Class fare.