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Southeastern has today announced plans to compensate rail passengers impacted from the Dover sea wall collapse.
Train users from Sandwich, Deal, Walmer, Martin Mill or Dover Priory will be able to claim refunds, including the difference in cost between mainline and high speed fares for any National Rail tickets purchased from Christmas Eve.
The company will also give season ticket holders from the five affected stations, a 20% refund on the cost of their fare, which will be backdated for January.
Passengers renewing or purchasing tickets are advised to purchase a mainline ticket, which will be valid on all high speed and mainline services until further notice.
David Statham, managing director at Southeastern, said: “While we’re doing all we can to help passengers to complete their journeys whilst Network Rail work to repair the track, we know this closure has caused a lot of frustration and inconvenience. This compensation is in recognition of the loss of (direct) high speed services and extra journey times for these passengers.
“As soon as the line closed, we moved as quickly as possible to introduce an emergency timetable and I am pleased we’ve since been able to provide a direct high speed service to and from London via Ramsgate in the morning and evening peak.
“We’ll continue to work on what we can do to provide more journey options whilst the line is closed.”
Compensation claim forms will be available for collection from Sandwich, Deal, Walmer, Martin Mill and Dover Priory stations.
Charlie Elphicke, MP for Deal and Dover, said: “This has been a very difficult time for rail users. So it’s right and welcome that passengers will be compensated. The direct train to St Pancras is making a difference.
“We now need Network Rail to confirm how long it will take to repair the sea wall. I am doing all I can to see our rail line fixed as quickly as possible.”
Network Rail senior programme manager Steve Kilby said he realises how frustrating it is for passengers to have their journeys disrupted and is working to get a final design for repairs in place.
He said: “This week has been very stormy on the beach and our guys have been working through tough conditions.
“We’ve got 15,000 tonnes of rock down on the shingle to protect the railway from the heavy seas and we will eventually have more than 70,000 tonnes in place, all delivered by boat. That’s more than 3,500 lorries of material, just for the beach at Dover.”
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