Compensation Success For SWR Commuters


By All Party Parliamentary Group for the South Western Railway including Putney's MP


L-R The Secretary of State for Transport, SWR MD Mark Hopwood and directors of Network Rail

Fleur Anderson, MP for Putney is part of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the South Western Railway (SWR) area, that has achieved an unprecedented compensation package for commuters and season ticket holders impacted by strike action, following pressure from Parliament last week.

The MP for Putney and vice chairman of the newly-formed APPG for the SWR area, which met last Tuesday, has welcomed today’s (21 February) announcement. It comes just one week after a Parliamentary meeting attended by the Minister of State for Transport, SWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood and directors of Network Rail to discuss specific issues of performance, franchising and strikes.

Today’s announcement by SWR means the cost of rail travel for up to five days will be paid as compensation and will be offered to season ticket holders and daily ticket holders who were worst affected during the strike.

Fleur Anderson says: “South Western Railway has a long way to go to be the reliable service we also pay for and expect. However this is some good news for all those who suffered in December. I hope this spurs SWR into resolved the strike issues so that workers are not forced to return to strike again. I’m delighted that through the APPG, we have been able to secure a better deal for those passengers who were so badly affected by these strikes. However, we will continue to push for a more reliable service with no delays and more trains.’

February 21, 2020