MP demands inquiry into rail delay figures

The rail operator’s punctuality clause is that if less than 82 per cent of Southeastern’s regular services had been on time, passengers would have been entitled to claim a discount of five per cent on their season tickets.

Southeastern claimed 82.4 per cent of services met the punctuality target over the last 12 months.

During the worst winter weather, only five per cent of trains arrived on time and other trains were cancelled, late, or removed from the timetable .

Last month also saw dozens of passengers spending the night on a London to Hastings train after it broke down.

Mr Barker says the figures “didn’t smell right”, and has called for an independent inspection of Southeastern’s figures after many Bexhill passengers were denied compensation.

Commuters are entitled to compensation under the Passenger Charter scheme, dependent on the rail operator’s performance in the 12 months running up to when a season ticket is renewed.

Mr Barker said: “It beggars belief Southeastern has been able to wriggle out of paying compensation to commuters after the abysmal performance of trains on the Hastings line in recent months.

“Anyone who has experienced the delays, cancellations, overcrowding and poor information during last month’s cold snap will undoubtedly feel that these figures don’t tell the whole truth.

“The statistics need to be looked at carefully and independently because it just doesn’t smell right and I have written to the Minister of Transport to call for an independent review.

“Local rail users deserve a much better deal than this.”

The lack of compensation will not be welcome news to commuters who are facing an average cost rise of 7.8 per cent on season tickets thanks to new fare increases which came into force at the beginning of this month.

Southeastern also recently received a substantial payout from Network Rail for disruption to its services.

A spokesman for Southeastern said: “Southeastern operates a contingency timetable only when instructed by Network Rail

“ Punctuality and performance statistics are calculated using the standard industry methods and the process is audited annually independently.”

A spokesman from Southeastern trains’ sister rail operator, Southern, also defended itself.

“We’re not trying to avoid anything – we had to run some revised timetables during the snow, but any cancelled trains or delays come under our delay repay system as part of our Passenger Charter.

“Looking to accuse train operators of running revised timetables to avoid compensation is completely unfounded.

“We ran the best possible service we could in the circumstances. If we had attempted to run a normal timetable during the period of snow and ice, there would have been severe disruption.

“The services we did run performed sufficiently well, although we did suffer from some cancellations and delays as a consequence of the poor conditions. These are all covered under our delay repay scheme.”