HC Deb 24 April 1995 vol 258 cc386-7W
Mr. Gerrard

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what compensation will be available to passengers on the Gospel Oak to Barking line whose trains have been cancelled through delays caused by Railtrack or the train operator; and if he will give passengers parity with freight customers in respect of the imposition of penalties when trains are delayed. [18700]

Mr. Norris

Under British Rail's passengers charter, season ticket holders are entitled to a discount on renewal if average performance over the previous year has been below the advertised standard by more than a small margin. For non-season ticket holders, British Rail offers an ex-gratia system in response to all claims, and each is treated on its merits. In addition, North London Railways is currently offering ex-gratia compensation to season ticket holders affected by the severe disruption to Gospel Oak to Barking services on 27 and 28 March.

Any compensation from BR to freight customers is a contractual matter between BR and the individual customer.

Mr. Gerrard

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many trains have been delayed for more than five minutes on the Gospel Oak to Barking line since 1 March. [18702]

Mr. Norris

During the period 5 March to 1 April, 108 trains have been delayed for more than five minutes on the Gospel Oak to Barking line.

Mr. Gerrard

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what remedial works to bridges and other structures on the Gospel Oak to Barking line Railtrack has completed to permit the passage of trains with wagons of tare weight of 100 tonnes with 25 tonne axle loadings over the weight restricted section of railway between south Tottenham and Woodgrange park; and if he will make a statement on the safety implications of currently operating such trains over that section of railway. [18699]

Mr. Norris

I understand that after reassessment, Railtrack's engineers have concluded that it is safe to run freight trains on this line subject to some restrictions, such as limiting access to some bridges to one freight train at a time.

Mr. Gerrard

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many trains have been cancelled on the Gospel Oak to Barking line since 1 March. [18701]

Mr. Norris

During the period 5 March to 1 April, 101 trains have been cancelled on Gospel Oak to Barking line.

Mr. Gerrard:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if train services on the Gospel Oak to Barking line since 1 March meet his standards laid down under the passengers charter in respect of delays and cancellations. [18703]

Mr. Norris

Passengers charter performance standards are set by the British Railways Board and apply to route groups, not to individual lines. The Gospel Oak to Barking line is part of the North London lines route group. The latest BR performance figures for the period up to 3 March, show that north London lines are failing to meet both their punctuality and reliability standards.