SEASON ticket holders using West Midlands Trains (WMT) will not pay January’s national fares increase.
West Midlands Trains made the announcement earlier today (December 27) following intense public pressure and a drop in performance since the company’s timetable change in May.
The discount on season tickets will more than cover the 2.8 per cent increase which is set for January 2, 2020.
There will be a three per cent reduction in the cost of weekly, monthly and annual season tickets to offset the fare rise.
Jan Chaudhry-van der Velde, managing director of WMT said: “In recognition of our poor performance this compensation package is for our regular customers when they renew their season tickets.
“We have said for some time now that performance and timekeeping since the timetable change has not been good enough.
“It added too much complexity which resulted in delays throughout the network.
“Changes were made this December to remove the complexity and to add capacity, but the most significant changes to reintroduce simplicity will be implemented in the May 2020 timetable.
“I apologise again to customers for our poor performance and cancellations.”
In recognition that the poor performance has affected more than just season ticket holders, WMT says it will announce a ‘summer ticket promotion’ for other customers soon.
These compensation packages are in addition to the £2.5million WMT has already paid out for delays this year.
New trains are also set to be on the tracks in May.
