How much compensation do you get for train delays in the UK?

Lauren Ryan

Published: June 12, 2026

We’ve all been there. You're standing at the platform, waiting for your train, and you hear the dreaded announcement: 'Your train has been delayed due to unforeseen circumstances.' And thus begins the rearranging of plans and onward travel. Luckily, when your train is delayed, you’re often entitled to compensation. But the big question is: how much will I actually get back?

How much compensation you’re entitled to for a train delay varies by a couple of factors, including the train company, the length of the delay and your ticket type. In this guide, we’ll break down how much train delay compensation you can expect – whether your train is delayed by 15 minutes or 2 hours.

Delay Repay compensation rates explained

Delay Repay is a simplified compensation scheme adopted by almost all train operating companies in Great Britain. It allows passengers to claim compensation for delays of 15+ or 30+ minutes, regardless of cause.

The typical amount of train delay compensation you can claim is as follows:

Delays of 15–29 mins → 25% of a single fare
Delays of 30–59 mins → 50% of a single fare
Delays of 60–119 mins → 100% of a single fare
Delays of 120+ mins → 100%, whether a single or return ticket

If you are travelling with a single ticket, the above amounts are the typical minimum compensation you will receive on your fare. For return tickets, the corresponding compensation amount will apply only to the affected leg (unless you experience a delay of 2 hours or more).

Season tickets: If you are travelling on a Season ticket, you are still entitled to compensation under the Delay Repay scheme with some companies. Typical compensation amounts for Season tickets are proportional to the ticket validity:

15–29 mins → 1/40th for weekly tickets, 1/160th for monthly tickets and 1/1856th for annual tickets
30–59 mins → 1/20th for weekly tickets, 1/80th for monthly tickets and 1/928th for annual tickets
60+ mins → 1/10th for weekly tickets, 1/40th for monthly tickets and 1/464th for annual tickets

Keep in mind: The compensation amounts listed above are typical but not universal across all train companies, so it is worth consulting your operator’s specific policy. Train delay compensation is awarded based on the cost of the ticket and the length of the delay – not the distance of your trip. The longer the delay and the more expensive the ticket, the higher your delay compensation.

Do all train companies offer the same Delay Repay compensation?

No, not all train companies offer the same Delay Repay compensation. Some companies still use the older Delay Repay 30 framework as opposed to the newer Delay Repay 15 (DR15) standard. This means that these companies will only offer compensation for delays of 30 minutes or more. The following operators follow the older 30-minute threshold:

It is also worth noting that not all companies use the Delay Repay framework, and, despite being part of the Delay Repay scheme, require a minimum of a 30- to 60-minute delay before paying out. These include:

Elizabeth Line – 30-minute threshold
Grand Central – 60-minute threshold
London Overground – 30-minute threshold
Merseyrail – 30-minute threshold

For companies not adhering to the Delay Repay scheme, compensation amounts may differ according to company policy.

Example Delay Repay compensation scenarios

To help you understand how this compensation scheme works out in the case of a delay, we’ve outlined a few different scenarios to show you how much compensation is owed for a train delay.

Scenario 1: 20-Minute Delay (DR15 v DR30)

You bought a Standard Advance Single train ticket from Birmingham New Street to Manchester Piccadilly with Avanti West Coast at a fare of £40.00.

Your train is delayed, and you arrive in Manchester 20 minutes later than scheduled. Avanti West Coast uses the 15-minute Delay Repay standard, and as such, you are entitled to compensation.

Length of delay x Fare = Compensation amount

15–29 mins → 25% x £40 = £10

However, if you booked this same journey with CrossCountry, you would not be entitled to any compensation, as CrossCountry still uses the DR30 framework – meaning compensation starts at delays of 30 minutes or more.

Scenario 2: 45-Minute Delay on a Return Ticket

You booked a train from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street with ScotRail and chose an Anytime Return ticket at £32.00, meaning each leg is valued at £16.00.

Your outbound leg experiences a delay, and you arrive in Glasgow 45 minutes late. You return that same evening and arrive on time.

Length of delay x Fare = Compensation amount

30–59 mins → 50% x £16 (1 leg) = £8

Only the outbound leg was delayed, so the compensation rate only applies to the affected leg, resulting in a 25% payout of the total ticket value.

Scenario 3: 75-Minute Delay with a Single Ticket

You booked a Standard Single ticket from Manchester Piccadilly to Bristol Temple Meads with CrossCountry, at a fare of £90.00.

Your journey is delayed by 1 hour 15 minutes.

Length of delay x Fare = Compensation amount

60–119 mins → 100% x £90 = £90

Delays between 60 and 119 minutes trigger a full 100% compensation rate of the affected single ticket cost, regardless of whether the company adheres to DR15 or DR30.

Scenario 4: 2-Hour+ Delay on Return Trip

You purchased a return ticket on the Caledonian Sleeper from London to Inverness, priced at £150.

Due to a major malfunction – such as a train breaking down and blocking the line – your overnight arrival is delayed by 2 hours and 20 minutes.

Length of delay x Fare = Compensation amount

120+ mins → 100% return x £150 (2 legs) = £150

Even though only one leg of your return journey was affected, delays of more than 2 hours call for a 100% compensation rate for the total ticket cost.