Rail passengers may soon see changes in compensation rules, with new proposals suggesting that compensation will only be provided if a journey is delayed by 30 minutes or more, according to reports.

Currently, most train companies refund 25% of the ticket price for delays between 15 and 29 minutes, increasing to 50% for delays between 30 and 59 minutes, and 100% for delays exceeding one hour.

Under the proposed new rules, passengers would only be eligible for compensation if their journey is delayed by more than 30 minutes, and refunds would be automatically granted without the need for passengers to fill out online forms.

The Times has reported that these proposals are part of plans to introduce a unified compensation system to replace existing “delay repay” schemes. As private rail contracts expire, UK rail companies are being nationalized with the aim of bringing all major operators under public ownership by October 2027.

Once rail compensations are nationalized, the cost of compensation will be covered by taxpayer funds rather than by private operators. In the 2023-24 financial year, approximately £138 million was paid out to rail passengers.

Trainline recently highlighted that rail passengers are missing out on over £80 million annually in compensation for delayed journeys. To address this, Trainline has initiated a petition urging the government to implement a “one-click” claims process for all online ticket purchasers.

Jody Ford, the chief executive of Trainline, emphasized the importance of simplifying the compensation process, stating that passengers deserve a streamlined approach to claiming refunds following disrupted journeys. The goal is to enable a more efficient and user-friendly compensation system that aligns with passenger needs.