KashmireHawker
Member
One off the press in the past few minutes - all rail franchise agreements suspended for 6 months, with the cost and risk transferred to DfT.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/...s-for-passengers-with-rail-emergency-measures
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/...s-for-passengers-with-rail-emergency-measures
The government is taking emergency measures to support and sustain necessary rail services as operators face significant drops in their income.
The Department for Transport will temporarily suspend normal franchise agreements and transfer all revenue and cost risk to the government for a limited period, initially 6 months. Operators will continue to run services day-to-day for a small predetermined management fee. Terms and conditions of employment for rail workers will not change.
This will allow us to ensure that trains necessary for key workers and essential travel continue to operate. No other passengers should travel. As we have already announced, services will be reduced from today (23 March 2020).
Anyone holding an advance ticket will be able to refund it free of charge. All season ticket holders can claim a refund for time unused on their tickets free of administrative charges. Ticket holders should contact their operator for details.