A mainline rail operator is to offer £1m in compensation to passengers to show it is "very sorry" for the deterioration in service during recent weeks.

Thameslink said "floods, storms and infrastructure problems" had caused delays and disruption to services.

The company said it would not make any excuses for the poor performance, but it thought it was "through the worst".

Services were badly hit three weeks ago after storms battered the UK bringing down trees and damaging overhead power lines.

'Significant disruptions'

Mark Causebrook, director and general manager for Thameslink, said: "We make no excuses for the poor performance.

"But the fact is that no one can operate an efficient service when the route is constantly disrupted, irrespective of the cause.

"It's the customer who is suffering and we are compensating them for the significant disruptions they have endured."

Delays were caused by essential engineering work overrunning on 11 and 18 November which disrupted services during morning peaks.

There were cancellations after tunnels in north London became flooded.

The water damaged to three, four-car trains.

'Very sorry'

Two of these have now been repaired and the third is due back in service in early December.

Mr Causebrook said: "We trust we are through the worst, but nevertheless feel we owe it to the customers to compensate them and to show we are very sorry for the problems caused."

Richard Fearn, Railtrack's Midland Zone director, said: "We have seen a succession of unrelated, but high level problems combining to hinder the operational railway.

"We have provided remedial action in double quick time, but nevertheless there has been an enormous impact on the services Thameslink has been able to provide."

Over the next week Thameslink will be distributing letters to customers about claiming compensation and information will be available at train stations.