§ Viscount Astorasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why rail travel between Stansted Airport and London has been excluded from the penalty fares regime; and [HL3160]
What are the reasons for the penalty fares regime being reintroduced for rail travel between Gatwick Airport and London stations; and [HL3161]
Whether the Strategic Rail Authority was consulted about and approved (a) the penalty fares regime exclusion from Stansted Airport to London and (b) the reintroduction of the penalty fares regime from Gatwick Airport to London; and [HL3162]
Whether the Strategic Rail Authority consulted the London Transport Users Committee on the issue of the rail penalty fares regime from Stansted and Gatwick Airports to London. [HL3163]
§ Lord Macdonald of TradestonTrain operating companies are free to decide whether or not to apply penalty fares. Those that wish to charge penalty fares must submit a scheme for approval to the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA). The scheme has to comply with the Penalty Fares Regulations made by the Secretary of State for Transport and the Penalty Fares Rules made by the SRA. The approval process includes consultation with the relevant rail passengers committee and passenger transport executive. The London Transport Users Committee was consulted on all the London area penalty fares schemes, including Thameslink and South Central. Thameslink and South Central charge penalty fares on most of their networks, including on their services between Gatwick and London. Gatwick Express and WAGN's dedicated London—Stansted Express service have decided not to operate a penalty fares scheme.