Mary Creagh MP, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, speaking ahead of a visit to Berkshire later this morning, said:

“Rail passengers have lost out during the continuing severe weather, with delayed and cancelled services, long rail replacement bus journeys and exorbitant walk-on fares.

“The Government should be working with train companies to make passengers aware of their rights to compensation for delayed and cancelled services. Season ticket holders should be able to claim discounts and refunds in a timely, non-bureaucratic way.

“We support calls for better information for passengers, many of whom have found inaccurate or missing service information over the past days. The Government should be ensuring that train operators and Network Rail provide accurate real-time information to the National Rail Enquiries website and via social media.

“The Government should require train operators to declassify first-class carriages in the event of service delays or cancellations due to severe weather, to ease overcrowding and ensure more passengers reach their destinations.”