| Re: Delay / Repay - to be less generous Posted by ChrisB at 20:44, 21st February 2026 |     |
From the Mirror, via MSN
Rail compensation 'set to be scrapped' for some passengers in major shake-up
Rail passengers will no longer qualify for train compensation unless their journey is 30 minutes delayed, under new proposals reportedly being considered by the government.
Most train companies currently refund 25% of your ticket price if your journey is between 15 and 29 minutes delayed.
If your train is between 30 and 59 minutes delayed, you normally qualify for 50% compensation - this rises to 100% of your ticket price back if you are over one hour delayed.
But under the new rules, rail passengers would only get compensation if their journey is more than 30 minutes delayed.
Any refund due would be awarded automatically - removing the need for passengers to have to fill out “delay repay” forms online, with proof of their ticket.
The Times reports that the proposals are being considered as part of plans to replace “delay repay” schemes with a single system.
UK rail companies are being nationalised as private contracts expire, with a goal to bring all major operators into public ownership by October 2027.
The cost of compensation will be funded by taxpayer money once all the rail compensations are nationalised, as opposed to be paid by private operators.
Around £138million was paid out to rail passengers in the 2023-24 financial year. A Department for Transport spokesperson told The Mirror : “We do not comment on speculation.
“This Government is overhauling our railways and building back public trust so that passengers can rely on trains that run on time.
“Our reforms are making ticketing simpler throughout passengers’ journeys – from rolling out more contactless tech at stations and trialling pay-as-you-go fares, to making it easier to claim delay repay, including through our upcoming GBR app.”
It comes after Trainline revealed rail passengers are missing out on more than £80million a year in compensation for delayed journeys.
Trainline has launched a petition calling on the Government to enable “one click” claims to be made by all online ticket buyers.
Trainline chief executive Jody Ford said: “Six minutes of form-filling after a delayed train is unacceptable.
“With years of innovation and industry cooperation, we’ve made huge progress in simplifying ticket buying, but compensation must be just as easy when journeys are disrupted.
“Passengers want rail reform that focuses on what matters to them, and ‘one-click’ delay repay is a practical change the industry and Government can do together.”
Rail passengers will no longer qualify for train compensation unless their journey is 30 minutes delayed, under new proposals reportedly being considered by the government.
Most train companies currently refund 25% of your ticket price if your journey is between 15 and 29 minutes delayed.
If your train is between 30 and 59 minutes delayed, you normally qualify for 50% compensation - this rises to 100% of your ticket price back if you are over one hour delayed.
But under the new rules, rail passengers would only get compensation if their journey is more than 30 minutes delayed.
Any refund due would be awarded automatically - removing the need for passengers to have to fill out “delay repay” forms online, with proof of their ticket.
The Times reports that the proposals are being considered as part of plans to replace “delay repay” schemes with a single system.
UK rail companies are being nationalised as private contracts expire, with a goal to bring all major operators into public ownership by October 2027.
The cost of compensation will be funded by taxpayer money once all the rail compensations are nationalised, as opposed to be paid by private operators.
Around £138million was paid out to rail passengers in the 2023-24 financial year. A Department for Transport spokesperson told The Mirror : “We do not comment on speculation.
“This Government is overhauling our railways and building back public trust so that passengers can rely on trains that run on time.
“Our reforms are making ticketing simpler throughout passengers’ journeys – from rolling out more contactless tech at stations and trialling pay-as-you-go fares, to making it easier to claim delay repay, including through our upcoming GBR app.”
It comes after Trainline revealed rail passengers are missing out on more than £80million a year in compensation for delayed journeys.
Trainline has launched a petition calling on the Government to enable “one click” claims to be made by all online ticket buyers.
Trainline chief executive Jody Ford said: “Six minutes of form-filling after a delayed train is unacceptable.
“With years of innovation and industry cooperation, we’ve made huge progress in simplifying ticket buying, but compensation must be just as easy when journeys are disrupted.
“Passengers want rail reform that focuses on what matters to them, and ‘one-click’ delay repay is a practical change the industry and Government can do together.”
| Re: Delay / Repay - to be less generous Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:21, 21st February 2026 | |
If you haven't already cast your own vote on this poll topic, there is still plenty of opportunity for our members to do so.
And, if you are not a member but are reading this as a guest, there is still time for you to register here as a new member: it's easy to do, there is no charge and no commitment whatever (other than to follow the published guidelines when posting here, obviously). See http://worker.firstgreatwestern.info/better/about.html and, specifically, http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?action=register .
CfN.
| Re: Delay / Repay - to be less generous Posted by TaplowGreen at 19:37, 17th February 2026 | |
Surely the re-nationalisation of the railways is going to 'put an end to delays' and thus avoid the need for the government to pay any compensation? 
It'll mean we pay even more for even less.
| Re: Delay / Repay - to be less generous Posted by Kernow Otter at 18:43, 17th February 2026 | |
More levelling down.
| Re: Delay / Repay - to be less generous Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:24, 17th February 2026 | |
Surely the re-nationalisation of the railways is going to 'put an end to delays' and thus avoid the need for the government to pay any compensation?
| Delay / Repay - to be less generous Posted by grahame at 18:00, 17th February 2026 | |
From Aubrey Allegretti
Exc: Ministers are considering plans to scale back “delay repay” refunds for late running trains.
Insiders say the move will be presented as a way to standardise differing compensation schemes, as the government’s nationalisation drive ramps up.
But ideas under consideration include “levelling down” to LNER levels - meaning no money back for delays of up to 29 minutes.
Taken together with plans for automating compensation means it is hoped the cost would be revenue neutral.
Insiders say the move will be presented as a way to standardise differing compensation schemes, as the government’s nationalisation drive ramps up.
But ideas under consideration include “levelling down” to LNER levels - meaning no money back for delays of up to 29 minutes.
Taken together with plans for automating compensation means it is hoped the cost would be revenue neutral.
