Compensation for disruption: one rule for rail, another for road

Rail operators are compensated for the increased costs and lost revenue arising from disruption caused by engineering works, but road users hit by roadworks receive nothing. Rhodri Clark explores the different systems

Rhodri Clark

17 September 2018

Same but different: passenger and freight train operators were compensated for the disruption caused by this over-running electrification work in southern Monmouthshire (top), while bus and lorry operators receive no compensation for the disruption caused by the over-running A465 dualling works in northern Monmouthshire

Compensating train operators for disruption during engineering is a routine activity for Network Rail. Every operator is eligible, even those that will directly benefit from the work being done. Meanwhile, when unplanned line closures occur, passengers can receive compensation for the consequential delays. Highways authorities, on the other hand, are not obliged to make any compensation payments to road users, regardless of the scale of delays caused by roadworks.

Could these polar...