Passengers will soon have the right to board other train operators’ services if their original train is cancelled.
The policy change, described as “common-sense” by rail minister Lord Hendy, will take effect from Sunday, September 20.
It aims to reduce confusion and delays caused on the rail network, where pre-booked tickets often aren’t valid on alternative operators without special arrangements.
Passengers will be able to use their tickets on another operator’s train up to two hours before or after the cancelled service, provided it is a reasonable alternative route.
Lord Hendy said: "This is a simple, common-sense change that puts passengers first.
"No one should be left stranded because of a fragmented railway when their journey is disrupted.
"From this weekend, if your train is cancelled, you can get on another operator’s service and carry on your journey without paying again."
What were rail passengers able to do before?
Until now, passengers had only been allowed to travel with different operators in times of severe disruption.
Additionally, they sometimes had to wait for rail companies to agree to honour tickets or buy a new, often costly, ticket before seeking a refund.
The Department for Transport said passengers had until now been "paying the price for a system which prioritises shareholders when trains are cancelled".
The new rule already applies to publicly owned train companies, but will now extend to major intercity operators including CrossCountry, GWR, Avanti West Coast, and Chiltern Railways.
East Midlands Railway is excluded for now due to ongoing mass cancellations and seat shortages linked to problems with its new Hitachi bi-mode trains.
Alex Robertson, chief executive of independent watchdog Transport Focus, said it was "a welcome change that we have long called for."
He added: "The key now is making sure passengers get clear information about their options whenever disruption occurs."
The change is part of wider rail reforms as the government moves towards establishing Great British Railways.
Most passenger train operations are set to come under public ownership next year under the new structure, except for a small number of open-access services.
How to get compensation on your train journeys
National Rail shares that if you're travelling and arrive late at your destination due to a cancelled or delayed service, you may be able to claim compensation.
Passengers would need to request this compensation directly from the train company they travelled with.
The amount that is compensated will depend on the type of ticket a passenger bought, which train company was travelled with and the length of delay.
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Each train company has its own compensation threshold, which will be detailed in their Passenger’s Charter on their website.
The longer you are delayed, the more compensation you will generally receive.
National Rail adds: "Claims can be made online, or by post using a form that you can download from a train company website or get from a staffed station."
Are you happy to see these changes being made for rail passengers? Let us know in the comments.
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