Govia Thameslink Railway

Govia Thameslink Railway has today reported a positive start to the introduction of the new interim Thameslink and Great Northern timetable this week.

The new schedules have delivered a more stable, resilient and reliable service.

Some 200 extra trains are now running each weekday across the network compared to the period prior to the introduction of the May timetable.

Levels of punctuality and reliability are returning to levels achieved before the May timetable change.

GTR Chief Executive Patrick Verwer said: “My priority is to ensure passengers have the punctual service they are promised, and the new interim timetable is starting to achieve that.

“While the overall picture has improved, some infrastructure problems beyond our control have impacted services.”

Season ticket holders affected by disruption since the May timetable was introduced will be able to claim special industry compensation. This is in addition to the company’s Delay Repay compensation for delays of 15 minutes or more.

Passengers are encouraged to find out more by visiting www.thameslinkrailway.com or www.greatnorthernrail.com.

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Editor’s notes

• The new interim timetable was introduced on Sunday 15 July; the first weekday service was on Monday 16 July.
• Weekday Public Performance Measure (PPM) on Thameslink and Great Northern 86.8 per cent on 19 July; on Thameslink and Great Northern 90.4 per cent on 17 May.
• GTR has introduced 200 extra trains across the network towards the target of 400 extra trains promised in the May timetable change

GTR has today announced details of an additional industry compensation scheme for those season ticket holders on Great Northern and Thameslink most affected by issues relating to the introduction of the May timetable.

Refunds on fares are being offered to customers in agreement with the Department for Transport and in recognition of the recent disruption.

The scheme will be funded by the rail industry, including GTR, with the amount of compensation to be paid calculated according to the level of disruption since the start of the new May timetable.

Qualifying passengers will have to have held a season ticket for travel between 20 May and 28 July and will receive money back based on the equivalent cost of one to four weeks’ rail travel.

GTR will administer the scheme for the industry and, to make the process as simple as possible for passengers, will start to contact qualifying passengers they have identified by the end of August and will advise them of their refund amount and seek payment details. The scheme will then be opened later for passengers to submit claims.

Passengers can find full details of the compensation package, including a list of stations in the scheme, at www.thameslinkrailway.com/industrycomp or www.greatnorthernrail.com/industrycomp

Nick Brown, GTR Chief Operating Officer, said: “We apologise to passengers for the poor level of services since the introduction of the May timetable. In recognition of this we will be refunding fares according to the level of disruption on Great Northern and Thameslink routes. This compensation is offered in addition to our usual Delay Repay compensation for journey delays of 15 minutes or more and enhanced compensation for season tickets holders.”

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Details of a new interim timetable to provide a more reliable service for Thameslink and Great Northern passengers have been published today.

GTR has committed to running more peak hour trains and provide a more regular service when the new timetable starts on Sunday July 15.

This marks a significant stage in the recovery plan following issues resulting from the introduction of the May timetable due to industry-wide factors.

Improvements to Thameslink and Great Northern services have been made possible by increased efficiency of driver work schedules.

GTR this week announced a special compensation package that will entitle qualifying passengers affected by the disruption to a refund equivalent to the cost of one or four weeks’ travel.

Nick Brown, Chief Operating Officer of GTR said: “We apologise to passengers for the disruption caused by the introduction of the May timetable due to late approval of these routes. The new timetable provides passengers with a more robust and reliable service, gives priority to peak hour trains and seeks to reduce gaps in the service. We encourage passengers affected by disruption to seek compensation.”

For further information on the new timetable visit www.thameslinkrailway.co.uk/interimtimetable or www.greatnorthernrail.co.uk/interimtimetable

For details of compensation visit www.thameslinkrailway.co.uk/delayrepay

Govia Thameslink Railway has announced a special compensation scheme in agreement with the Department for Transport for Thameslink and Great Northern passengers most severely affected by disruption following May’s timetable change.

Compensation will be paid to qualifying season ticket holders according to the level of disruption on Thameslink and Great Northern services.

Refunds will be the equivalent to the cost of one week or four weeks’ rail travel depending on the disruption to services for passengers and subject to qualifying criteria.

The scheme will be funded by the rail industry, including GTR, in recognition of the disruption caused by the failure of the new May timetable.

GTR is working with the DfT to make available full details of the scheme within a week. This will include a full list of qualifying stations, eligibility details and claims advice.

GTR Chief Operating Officer Nick Brown said:

“I am deeply sorry for the disruption which the rail industry is working very hard to fix. This compensation is offered in addition to our usual Delay Repay compensation for journey delays of 15 minutes or more and enhanced compensation for season tickets holders. We will shortly provide full details of the industry compensation scheme including eligibility criteria and claims advice.”

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