'Delay repay' compensation rolled out to passengers who suffer 15 minute delays in Greater Manchester
Customers in the north of England will now be able to claim for shorter delays than before.
After months of rail misery a there's finally some good news for train passengers across Greater Manchester.
The Department for Transport's announced anyone who suffers more than a 15 minute delay to their journey will now be eligible to claim compensation.
Previously, the so-called 'Delay Re-pay' system has only been available to customers in the north who experienced a 30 minute delay or longer.
Rail minister Jo Johnson unveiled the plans: "Passengers deserve a reliable train service, and when things do go wrong it is vital that they are compensated fairly.
"Extending ‘Delay Repay’ to cover 15 minute delays is a major boost for Northern passengers and we are committed to working with train companies across the network to make it as easy as possible for passengers to claim their rightful compensation.
"We are investing in the biggest rail modernisation programme since Victorian times to deliver the improvements that passengers want - more space, and faster, more frequent services. Improving compensation for delays is a key part of this."
Down south, passengers have been able to claim for the shorter delays for years and Greater Manchester's Mayor Andy Burnham says it's long overdue: “Along with Leaders from across the North, I have continually called on the Government to introduce Delay Repay compensation for 15 minute delays so today’s announcement is a welcome one.
“Compensation for delays of 15 to 29 minutes has been available to passengers in London and other parts of the country for some time and its introduction in the North is long overdue.
“Northern passengers have had to put up with seemingly endless misery and this move to ensure more passengers can access a greater level of compensation is the least they deserve.
“However the crisis on the North’s railways has not gone away. The Transport Secretary has said that fixing rail services in the North is his number one priority. His Department must now turn that rhetoric in to a reality.
“Passengers should not be expected to accept delays, even with greater compensation. I repeat Transport for the North’s call for a troubleshooter to bang heads together and get trains running properly across the North again. I hope we hear more on this from the Government today.”