First Great Western

Passengers travelling home for Christmas are being sold tickets for trains that won't run, according to the transport watchdog.

Most passengers claiming compensation for train delays should automatically be given a cheque instead of rail vouchers from tomorrow – but the law to enforce this has been postponed by six months.

Train company First Great Western is to stop halving the compensation it pays for delays if paying passengers request it in cash, after MoneySavingExpert raised concerns over the policy with the Department for Transport.

Train travellers will face mid-winter misery in January when train fares rise by an average of 6.2%.