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Rail firms ‘cream off’ unclaimed compensation
SHAREHOLDERS are creaming off the compensation cash owed to more than 30 million passengers who fail to claim for delayed journeys, unions stormed yesterday.
Consumer group Which? has filed a “super-complaint” to the Office of Rail and Road, calling on the regulator to make it easier for passengers to get their money back when their trains are late.
A study published in 2013 found that 88 per cent of eligible passengers did not claim compensation.
Campaigners complain that staff do not inform passengers that they are allowed to ask for a refund.
But rail union TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes turned fire on train operating companies for soaking up compensation from Network Rail and adding it to shareholders’ profits.
“Which? should be pointing the finger of blame at the government for allowing the
fragmentation of our railways to continue,” Mr Cortes argued.
“Private train operators simply don’t distribute to passengers all the money they
get from Network Rail in
compensation for delays and disruption.
“Money intended for passengers ends up in the pockets of greedy shareholders.”
He said claimants faced a “Byzantine” compensation system, insisting: “It is not our members who are failing in their duty of care to passengers and swindling them of their money.”
Mr Cortes said privateer operators should allow staff to hand out compensation forms on trains.
“Better still, the Transport Secretary should end this rip-off by compelling greedy train operators to ensure every passenger who suffers a disruption is compensated.”
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