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No compensation for nine in 10 Southern passengers Labour admit Southern rail compensation blunder
(about 4 hours later)
Almost nine out of every 10 Southern rail passengers could miss out on compensation for poor service, it has been claimed. The London Assembly Labour party has admitted it mistakenly claimed 590,000 Southern rail commuters could miss out on compensation for poor service.
Labour made the claim based on Oyster card and contactless bank card journeys in south London in one week in December.
But a party insider admitted there were problems with its data.
About 84,000 Southern rail passengers are eligible for enhanced refunds, equivalent to four weeks' travel costs.
The government announced compensation packages in December for season ticket holders hit by long-running disruption.The government announced compensation packages in December for season ticket holders hit by long-running disruption.
About 84,000 passengers are eligible for enhanced refunds equivalent to four weeks' travel costs from Southern rail. Labour had claimed an estimated 590,000 commuters should also be compensated for disruption on the Southern rail network.
But the London Assembly's Labour group claims an estimated 590,000 commuters should also be compensated. It said figures released to it by Transport for London (TfL) showed 590,000 Oyster card or contactless bank card passengers travelled on the Southern rail network between 11 and 17 December.
Labour said figures released to it by Transport for London (TfL) showed 590,000 Oyster card or Contactless card passengers travelled on the Southern rail network between 11 and 17 December. They added that because they used pay-as-you-go, those passengers were excluded from Southern's enhanced refund compensation scheme.
Those passengers are excluded from Southern's enhanced refund compensation scheme. The Department for Transport (DfT) said around 300,000 passengers travel on Southern rail services every day.
However, they can apply to the government's Delay Repay 15 compensation scheme instead which will compensate them up to 25% of the cost of a single fare for train delays of between 15 and 29 minutes. However, they can apply to the government's Delay Repay 15 compensation scheme instead, which will compensate them up to 25% of the cost of a single fare for train delays of between 15 and 29 minutes.
Labour's London Assembly transport spokesperson Florence Eshalomi said said it was "damned insulting" to exclude passengers who pay as they go. Southern said it did not recognise the numbers released by Labour adding they gave "a very misleading impression".
She said: "Not only have Southern passengers endured the worst services in the country, they've seen their fares go up. Its statement said: "We carry only 300,000 people a day. Those who travel on normal single journeys can already claim under our normal Delay Repay compensation scheme - including those using Oyster pay as you go or contactless cards.
"If the government wants to avoid sticking the boot in anymore, it should be compensating all passengers." "The scheme announced by the government is to recompense season ticket holders and we have already contacted 40,000 to offer them compensation. We strongly encourage anyone else who thinks they could be entitled to compensation to make a claim."
The compensation scheme was announced after months of disruption to commuters on the Southern rail network in south London and southern England.
Annual season ticket holders will receive a payment equivalent to one month's travel, with quarterly, monthly and weekly season ticket holders able to claim an equivalent payment for the ticket type.
But those who pay as they travel with cash or cards will receive no payment under the scheme.
According to official performance data, 29.5% of Southern's mainline and coast services were more than five minutes late last year - almost three in every 10 services.According to official performance data, 29.5% of Southern's mainline and coast services were more than five minutes late last year - almost three in every 10 services.
The Department for Transport said the disruption was caused by track failures, engineering works, "unacceptably poor performance" by the operator and a series of strikes.The Department for Transport said the disruption was caused by track failures, engineering works, "unacceptably poor performance" by the operator and a series of strikes.
Govia Thameslink Rail (GTR), which runs the rail line, apologised for "many months of disruption and misery". The compensation scheme will close on 30 April 2017.