How long do you have to claim Delay Repay?

Jay Harlow

Published: June 12, 2026

How long do you have to claim Delay Repay?

Has your train been recently delayed, and are you looking for compensation? The great news is it’s not an immediate rush to claim back, but you also don’t want to leave it too long, as there’s a strict deadline for both online and postal claims set out by the National Rail Conditions of Travel (NRCoT) and in each operator’s Passenger Charter.

This guide covers all you need to know about the Delay Repay deadline, including how long it takes to receive your compensation and what happens if you miss the deadline.

What is the Delay Repay claim deadline?

The Delay Repay deadline is 28 days after the date of your disrupted journey - that means you can submit a claim at any point within this timeframe. As soon as the 28-day deadline passes, you won’t be able to apply for compensation, and any amount you’re owed will not be paid out.

It’s important to note, too, that this applies to postal claims - if you plan to submit by post, be sure to get your paperwork sent so it arrives before the 28-day deadline. It’s a good idea to send it first class so it arrives quickly.

Nearly every major train company works to this same 28-day window, including Southern, South Western Railway, TransPennine Express, East Midlands Railway, ScotRail and LNER. The clock starts from your travel date, not from the day you realise you were eligible to claim.

What happens if you miss the Delay Repay deadline?

If you miss the 28-day deadline for Delay Repay, you lose the right to claim altogether. Submitting late is one of the most common reasons claims are rejected - and operators are strict on this.

Remember, claims are submitted through official Delay Repay channels on the respective operator’s website or by post - do not send an email, as this doesn’t count and you’d run the risk of missing the deadline. Also, make sure you apply through the correct operator.

How long does it take to receive compensation?

As per the National Rail Conditions of Travel, operators have a target of paying out claims within one month. The exact timeframe depends on your method of payment, though.

Some companies aim to respond to claims within 20 days, but typically do so within 5. Once the operator has approved your compensation, the time it takes for funds to arrive varies:

Bank transfer (BACS) typically takes up to 3 days
PayPal around 48 hours
Cheques and National Rail Vouchers are sent by post within 2 to 4 weeks

Here’s a summary of what each operator advises - just keep in mind that this can change at any point:

Avanti West Coast

Automated claims: processed within 24 hours; payment within 5 working days
Manual claims: 20 working days

c2c

Manual claims: processed within 20 working days
Automated claims (Smartcard): 5–10 working days

Caledonian Sleeper

Automated claims: processed within 24 hours; payment within 3–5 working days
Manual claims: 10 working days

Chiltern Railways

All claims: processed within 10 working days

CrossCountry

All claims: processed within 10 working days; up to 20 working days during busy periods
Payment method: BACS, PayPal, National Rail Travel Vouchers, or charity donation

East Midlands Railway (EMR)

All claims: processed within 24 hours; up to 10 working days where additional checks are required

Gatwick Express

All claims: processed within 20 working days; most resolved within 5 days outside disruption periods
Payment method: BACS, card (excluding Mastercard and Amex), PayPal, Amazon account balance (UK only), e-voucher, cashable National Rail Voucher, or charity donation

Grand Central

All claims: processed within 10 working days

Great Northern

All claims: processed within 20 working days; most resolved within 5 days outside disruption periods

Great Western Railway (GWR)

Payment timeframe: BACS and card up to 10 working days from confirmation; cheque within 14 days if payment fails

Greater Anglia

Payment timeframe: within 14 days of approval, by BACS, PayPal, card refund or National Rail Travel Vouchers

Heathrow Express

All claims: processed within 20 days
Payment method: credit or debit card only, refunded to the original card

Hull Trains

Payment timeframe: 10–15 working days after claim approval

LNER

Automated claims: confirmed within 30 minutes; payment to original card within 3–5 days
Payment method: BACS, PayPal, National Rail Travel Vouchers, or charity donation

London Northwestern Railway (LNR)

Payment timeframe: within 14 days of claim approval

London Overground

All claims: compensation for delays of 30+ minutes equals a refund of the single fare

Lumo

Automated claims: processed within 24 hours; payment within 5 working days
Manual claims: processed within 20 working days; BACS within 14 days, cheque within 28 days

Merseyrail

All claims: single and return tickets paid within 14 days via original payment method; season tickets and Railpass within 20 days

Northern

Manual claims: processed within 20 working days; bank and card payments within 10 working days
Automated claims: within 5 working days

ScotRail

All claims: responded to within 10 working days
Payment method: PayPal or cashable vouchers, redeemable at any ScotRail ticket office within 28 days

South Western Railway (SWR)

Payment timeframe: BACS within 5 working days of approval; card payment within 5–7 working days

Southeastern

Payment timeframe: bank transfer within 1 working day (allow 48 hours); PayPal within 1 hour (allow 48 hours); Visa debit/credit 3–10 working days; cashable vouchers posted within 14 days

Southern

All claims: processed within 20 working days; most resolved within 5 days outside disruption periods

Thameslink

All claims: processed within 20 working days; most resolved within 5 days outside disruption periods
Payment method: BACS, PayPal, or cashable voucher