Train strikes: can you claim a refund if your train is cancelled or delayed?

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) have announced that more than 40,000 workers from Network Rail and 15 train operators will strike on October 8. The union said it would be “effectively shutting down the railway network”.

Workers were also striking on Saturday (October 1) and Wednesday (October 5).

Elsewhere, in Scotland, workers on ScotRail will strike on October 10 in a dispute over pay.

The RMT called strike action in a dispute over “job security, pay, and working conditions”.

Passengers have been advised not to travel on trains this week, as the strikes will disrupt rail services across the UK.

Those who have purchased an advanced ticket for a specific date and time this week can claim a refund if their train has been rescheduled or cancelled.

Find out what you need to know about claiming compensation due to train strikes below.

Can you get a refund if your train was cancelled due to the strike?

If your train has been cancelled, delayed, or rescheduled due to strike action, you can claim a refund from the operator you purchased the ticket from.

If you booked a train through Trainline and it has been cancelled or rescheduled, you can get a refund without paying a fee. Alternatively, you can rearrange your trip for free.

Can you get a refund on a Season Ticket?

Season tickets use a formula where the price of a ‘single journey’, for the purpose of a refund, is a percentage of what you paid for your whole pass.

This means, for an annual-season pass, customers are eligible for 1/464th of the price back for every single journey.

For monthly season tickets, it is 1/40th of the price, and weekly 1/10th.

London Tube Strike: June 2022

How much is Delay Repay compensation for a delayed train?

The amount of compensation you can claim depends on how long you were delayed.

• If you were delayed 15-29 minutes, you can claim 25 per cent of the price of a single ticket and 12.5 per cent on a return ticket.

• If you were delayed 30-59 minutes, you can claim 50 per cent on a single ticket, or 25 per cent on a return ticket.

• If you were delayed 60-119 minutes, you can claim 100 per cent on a single ticket and 50 per cent on a return ticket.

• If you were delayed 120 minutes or more, you can claim a full refund on both single and return tickets.

How do you claim a refund on a delayed train?

Passengers can claim their refund through the train operator they purchased the ticket from. Most operators will allow you to claim online via Delay Repay.

You will have to register for a Delay Repay account if you have not claimed compensation before.

You’ll need to provide your contact details, a copy of your ticket or proof of purchase, as well as details of your journey (origin and destination stations, scheduled departure time, and the time you arrived).

The train operator will also need to know how you would like to be paid (bank transfer, debit/credit card, cheque, voucher, or donation to charity).