Chiltern Railways - Why still not part of the Delay Repay scheme?!

[trenopendo]

The National Railway webpage states:

Delay Repay is a nationwide scheme that makes it easier for you to get compensation for delayed rail journeys. If you are delayed when you travel on a participating National Rail service*, you can claim Delay Repay. * = Excluding Chiltern Railways. [From https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/209242.aspx]

I understand this used to be the case because Chiltern signed a super long franchise arrangement in 2002.

However, with the operation of the Emergency Recovery Measures Agreements and/or a possible franchise renewal (unsure if the system will go back to normal), could this anomaly be fixed? It seems that, at this stage, the Government could implement Delay Repay. Chiltern has very anti-consumer regulations in this respect.

 

[Watershed]

The National Railway webpage states:


I understand this used to be the case because Chiltern signed a super long franchise arrangement in 2002.

However, with the operation of the Emergency Recovery Measures Agreements and/or a possible franchise renewal (unsure if the system will go back to normal), could this anomaly be fixed? It seems that, at this stage, the Government could implement Delay Repay. Chiltern has very anti-consumer regulations in this respect.

The reason is, as you say, to do with their franchise agreement being substantively unchanged since 2002.

Generally, ERMAs are just a continuation of the existing position. It's NRCs (National Rail Contracts, the follow-up to ERMAs) that have lead to improvements in passenger conditions.

Unfortunately the government is in little mood to authorise additional expenditure, so Chiltern's inferior delay compensation scheme will likely remain for some time.