Amount Scotrail paid out through its ‘delay repay’ compensation scheme: FOI release

FOI reference: FOI/18/03127  
Date received: 26 October 2018
Date responded: 27 November 2018

 

Information requested and Response

 

1.   How much Scotrail paid out through its ‘delay repay’ compensation scheme between January and September, as a total sum and broken down by calendar month?

An exemption under section 33(1)(b) of FOISA (commercial interests) applies to the information requested above. This exemption applies because disclosure of this particular information would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially the commercial interests of Abellio ScotRail.

This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosing information as part of open and transparent government, and to help account for the expenditure of public money. However, there is a greater public interest in protecting the commercial interests of Abellio ScotRail, to ensure that we are always able to obtain the best value for public money.

 

2.   How many ‘delay repay’ payments Scotrail made between January and September 2018, as a total and broken down by calendar month?

Firstly it may help if I explain that this information is captured through Rail Industry 4 week periods rather than calendar months. For background the railway industry has 13 reporting periods of 4 weeks, with it being normal for the 13th period being adjusted as required to take account of 365 days in the year, or 366 in the case of a leap year. Period 1 starts in 1 April.

 

Rail Industry 4 week period	Reported number of Delay Repay payments
10                                       2017/18	2,440
11                                       2017/18	2,727
12                                       2017/18	9,747
13                                       2017/18	15,683
1                                         2018/19	3,500
2                                         2018/19	4,346
3                                         2018/19	4,937
4                                         2018/19	10,865
5                                         2018/19	6,042
6                                         2018/19	4,773

 

3.   How many ‘delay repay’ payments Scotrail made between January and September 2018, broken down by route?

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested in that format.

 

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