WHO PAYS WHAT

Over the years, the Delay Repay scheme has become more generous. A few TOCs now compensate for lags of as little as 15 minutes, but, with most, the starting point is 30 minutes.

Even here, there is confusion. Consider the rail links to four of London’s airports. Heathrow Express and Gatwick Express have Delay Repay, which pays out when a service is 15 minutes late or more. This will entitle you to a 25 per cent refund from Gatwick Express and 50 per cent from Heathrow Express, while delays in excess of 30 minutes will offer up to a full refund.

Thameslink, which operates trains to Gatwick and Luton, pays out 25 per cent for delays of 15-29 minutes, rising to 50 per cent for those of 30-59 minutes. The full fare is refunded if the waiting time exceeds 60 minutes. Stansted Express is the stingiest, paying out 50 per cent for delays of 30-59 minutes, with a full refund if the delay is 60 minutes or more. Here are some more examples.

Delays of 30-59 minutes – 50 per cent payout 60-119 minutes – full fare 120 minutes – full fare for return journey:

Abellio Greater Anglia (operates commuter trains east of London; Stansted Express operator. Note: 60 minutes or more delay applies to single journey)

Chiltern Railways (London Marylebone to Birmingham and Oxford)

Cross Country (wide network of regional trains running north-south, east-west but not including London)

East Midlands (London St Pancras to the East Midlands and South Yorkshire)

London Midland (London Euston to Birmingham, West Midlands, Cheshire) Scotrail (within Scotland only) Virgin Trains (London Euston to the West Midlands, the North West and Scotland)

Virgin Trains East Coast (London King’s Cross to Yorkshire, the North East and Scotland)

Delays of 15-29 minutes – 50 per cent payout 30 minutes – 100 per cent:

Heathrow Express (fast trains to Heathrow every 15 minutes)

Delays of 15-29 minutes – 25 per cent 30-59 minutes – 50 per cent 60 minutes – full fare:

Great Northern (commuter services north of London King’s Cross; operator of Thameslink serving Luton and Gatwick)

Southern (commuter services south of London; operator of Gatwick Express)

Delays of 60-119 minutes – 100 per cent payout:

Great Western Railway (operates from London Paddington to Wales and the West Country)

Delays of 60-120 minutes – 50 per cent 120-180 minutes – 75 per cent Over 180 minutes – 100 per cent:

Grand Central (services linking London King’s Cross with Yorkshire).