Rail travellers get compensation

People returning to work after New year were hit hardest

Rail passengers who suffered delays and cancellations travelling to London when engineering work over-ran after the New Year are to receive compensation.

One Railway will pay customers whose journeys were disrupted when work at Liverpool Street station took 24 hours longer than planned.

Mainline and Metro season ticket owners get a full refund for 2 and 3 January but West Anglia only for 2 January.

Non-season ticket customers are compensated for the day they travelled.

One Railway, which runs East of England to London services, will publicise how to make a claim in leaflets, posters and on its website.

Passengers to claim

Managing director Andrew Chivers said: "We're pleased to be able to offer full compensation arrangements to passengers inconvenienced by the engineering work over-run at London Liverpool Street.

"Both the extent of the over-run and the unacceptably late advice of the problems to us by Network Rail caused considerable difficulties for many of our customers.

"We're sorry that they had to suffer such disrupted journeys.

"The funding we have secured from Network Rail indicates that they have recognised the scale of the inconvenience caused to passengers using trains on Wednesday 2 January and Thursday 4 January."

Anthony Smith, chief executive of commuters' group Passenger Focus, said: "Passengers will be pleased that One has been taking positive action and is working with Network Rail to ensure their customers receive compensation after the New Year fiasco.

"Passenger Focus is encouraging those affected to claim and get compensation."

Network Rail apologised for the delays and said it had worked "flat out" to restore normal services.