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Train journey affected by strikes or the overtime ban? Here are your refund rights
Rail users across England, Scotland and Wales face disruption over the coming week as workers across multiple train operators take strike action, while others are also refusing to work overtime. See below for more info and to find out what your refund rights are.
- Train drivers at 16 companies will walk out on Friday 1 September.
- Train drivers at 14 operators will walk out on Saturday 2 September. Workers at 16 operators will also refuse to work overtime on Saturday 2 September.
- Train drivers at one company – CrossCountry – are also taking strike action on Saturday 9 September.
We've listed changes to individual rail companies' timetables over this period below. It's worth noting that services are often disrupted the day after strike action, so make sure you check your operator's website for updates.
Ticket refund rights if your train (excluding TfL services) is CANCELLED
For single-use rail tickets if you still want to travel:
- Due to travel on Friday 1 September or Saturday 2 September? You'll be able to use your ticket on Thursday 31 August or up to and including Tuesday 5 September.
- Due to travel on Saturday 9 September? Information on ticket use is yet to be confirmed; we'll update this story when we know more.
- Due to travel on a different day? There's no extra flexibility as only official strike days count for that – but you may still be able to get a refund if your train is cancelled or rescheduled.
For single-use rail tickets if you no longer want to travel:
- You can get a full refund if you cannot travel. Generally, if your train is cancelled or rescheduled, you are entitled to a full refund from the firm you were due to travel with for any ticket type, including advance tickets (see how to claim your money back). This includes where the train is cancelled due to strike action.
You can claim compensation for each official strike day (Friday 1 September, Saturday 2 September, Saturday 9 September) through the 'Delay Repay' system – the amount you can get depends on your train company's policy and you'll need to apply for it directly (see the links in the table above).
Ticket refund rights if your train (excluding TfL) is DELAYED
For single-use rail tickets:
If you have paid for a single-use ticket, be it an advance ticket, off-peak ticket or anytime ticket, you should be eligible for a partial or full refund if your train is delayed due to the strikes.
The amount you can claim depends on how long your train is delayed for. The majority of train firms now operate the 'Delay Repay' system, which means they pay out regardless of whether the delay was their fault. While there are some variations to how it works from company to company, in most cases it's as follows:
- If it's delayed by 15-29 minutes you'll get 25% back (12.5% off a return)
- If it's delayed by 30-59 minutes you'll get 50% back (25% off a return)
- You'll get 100% back for 60-119 minutes (50% off a return)
- You'll get 100% back off a single or return for delays of 120+ minutes
To see which companies offer Delay Repay, and how they operate it, see our Trains delays guide.
For season tickets:
Most season ticket holders can also claim for individual delays, but the rules vary and it's also worth checking if you can claim for continual delays. For full info, see our summary of season ticket rules.
How to claim for cancellations and delays
While the rules around refunds for train delays and cancellations are complicated, submitting your claim is usually straightforward and quick to do. Just follow these five steps to claim for delayed AND cancelled trains (providing you didn't use your ticket on another service):
Look up the train company running the service and find out how much you can get back. See our list of individual firms' policies.
Make a note of the delay and the reason for it (if you can't remember the length of the delay, use the Recent Train Times tool). Fill in the claim form – you can find it online (see a list of firms' websites) or request one from the station or by phone.
Keep hold of your tickets – you'll need to take a photo of them, or scan them if applying online, or post them to the train company if claiming that way. You need to claim directly to the train company, even if you purchased your tickets through a third party reseller.
Apply within the time limit of 28 days.
If you're rejected for compensation or a refund but still think you have a case, complain – you may be able to escalate your case to the Rail Ombudsmen or independent watchdog Transport Focus. See more in What to do if your claim's rejected.
Impacted by Tube or TfL delays or cancellations? You can't get a refund or compensation for industrial action
You can't get ANY refund for any delays or cancellations on London Underground, London Overground, DLR or Elizabeth Line caused by strikes or other industrial action. This includes those using pay-as-you-go services and those with weekly, monthly or annual season tickets.
However, TfL does pay out for other delays – for full info, see our Tube delays guide.
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