Northern to launch extended compensation scheme for regular travellers

Transport for the North has been working with train operator Northern to broker a compensation scheme for the worst affected regular travellers who suffered from disruption to their rail travel this Summer.

The scheme has been developed, based on input provided by the Transport for the North board and extends the compensation offer beyond the existing season-ticket holder scheme.

It allows regular travellers who do not hold season tickets to claim compensation for the disruption and inconvenience they suffered.

This is the first scheme of its kind in the UK to be introduced and to open for claims.

Northern has launched a web page – https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/season-ticket-compensation – explaining how the scheme will work and how those entitled to compensation can make their claims.

This is part of the overall compensation package that was agreed between Transport for the North and the Department for Transport in the Summer.

It is anticipated that the regular travellers’ scheme will be ready to accept compensation claims from Tuesday, October 9, and will remain open for a period of eight weeks.

The existing claim window for season ticket holders will be extended to match the same end date.

In terms of eligibility, the same qualifying routes and time periods being used for season ticket holders will be applicable, and full details of these are on the web page, but, in summary:

For Level 1 routes, customers will need to evidence at least 12 days’ travel in a 28-day window, and for Level 2 routes at least three days’ travel in a seven-day window.

Eligible journeys will need to have been made on the same route.

Customers are eligible to claim for either season ticket or regular traveller compensation – not both.

Customers are eligible to claim for either level 1 or level 2 – not both.

Level 1 routes are the worst affected routes where disruption took place pre and post the May timetable change. Season ticket holders on these routes were given up to one month’s compensation.

Level 2 Routes are other affected routes where disruption took place pre and post the May timetable change. Season ticket holders on these routes were given one week’s compensation.

It is important to note that, for this scheme, the eligibility criteria allows customers to have had flexible travel patterns across a number of weeks, eg two days one week and four the next – to provide an average of three journeys per week.

Further details on eligibility and how claims will be validated will be on the Northern website.

While Northern’s ‘landing page’ launches today explaining how the scheme will work, Transpennine Express will follow at a later date and Transport for the North will announce this once the date is finalised.

 Cllr Judith Blake, Leader of Leeds City Council and Member of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, said: “While this extension is a positive step, compensation is only useful if it gets to the people who need it. Given the existing scheme has received less than half the applications expected, it is clear the rail industry needs to work much harder to make sure passengers know what and how they can claim.

“Although the compensation on offer is still not as comprehensive as I and other North leaders have been demanding, I would urge all regular rail users to find out if they can make a claim.”