AN MP has demanded that commuters be compensated for serious disruptions they will face as part of a £300 million railway improvements scheme.

Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion, is calling for passengers who will have to deal with delays and cancellations this October and February next year due to the scheme, to receive partial refunds and free travel.

It comes after the revelation that Network Rail will save £30 million by avoiding weekend closures to carry out work on the Brighton Mainline.

The closures, which are planned to last for nine days each during both months, will take place instead of 84 weekend closures, while the track south of Three Bridges down to Brighton and Lewes is upgraded.

In a letter to Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, Ms Lucas, wrote: “Now we know that it will save £30m to undertake these works in two nine day stretches, as opposed to 84 weekends, I urge you to instruct GTR to do whatever work is necessary to get relevant data on ticket revenues and to do the work necessary to establish what such reductions/refunds would cost prior to agreeing to a constructive discussion about who should pay.

“Unlike the Government, I feel strongly that it should not be passengers.

“Whilst some passengers will be able to amend their plans, others will find that impossible, extremely difficult or costly, whatever notice period provided.

“Many people rely on the Brighton Mainline to get to work."

Ms Lucas posed a Parliamentary question in January asking about the estimated cost of providing refunds and compensation due to the planned works and for Mr Grayling to hold talks with Network Rail, GTR and passenger groups about the matter.

The MP said the Railways Minister, Jo Johnson, replied that passengers were given “sufficient notice” of the plans and would therefore have to pay the price for the disruptions.

Ms Lucas said: “Your minister’s response suggests a scant understanding of the real life commitments of people who are ‘just about managing’ or who, in many cases, struggle to pay rent, child-care and season-ticket/ticket costs.”

The programme of upgrades will focus on replacing or improving tracks, working on power and signalling on the rail line and improving drainage systems.

Network Rail has been contacted for a comment on whether it will provide compensation to passengers during the works, but we had not received a comment before going to print.