To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost to his Department has been of the compensation payments to customers made by Govia Thameslink Railway in relation to its rail franchises in the last 12 months.

The total cost of compensation payments was £6.6m in the 12 months up to 21 July, the latest date for which data is available.

The disruption suffered by passengers on Thameslink and Great Northern services following the May timetable change was completely unacceptable. The railway industry is funding a special compensation scheme which will provide the most affected season, daily and carnet ticket holders with compensation for this disruption. The Department is reviewing GTR’s compliance with its contractual obligations, and if it is found that GTR are in breach of their contract then we will take appropriate action.