Can I get a refund if my train is cancelled due to the rail strikes?

A spate of December and January transport strikes are set to cause mayhem for commuters and leisure travellers alike. But what are your rights when it comes to getting your money back?

The next month will be blighted by rail disruption, as workers from multiple unions stage walk outs across the UK and in London across 12 days in December and January.

The first industrial action date is Tuesday 13 December, when RMT Union members working for Network Rail and 14 separate rail operators have been instructed to walk out for 48 hours.

The full list of strike dates is:

• 13-14 December
• 16-17 December
• From 6pm on 24 December to 7am on 27 December
• 3-4 January
• 6-7 January

More than 40,000 transport workers across Network Rail and 14 train operating companies are involved in the strikes.

Industrial action from around 5,000 Network Rail signallers will mean half the rail network is closed, with a much-reduced service on the remainder.

Non-union members and managers will enable a service to run between 7.30am and 6.30pm across about half the rail network.

So what rights do you have if your pre-booked train is cancelled due to the strikes?

Here’s everything you need to know.

My train has been cancelled due to the strike. Can I get a refund?

Yes. If your scheduled train service is cancelled by the operator, even due to strikes, you are entitled to either:

• a full refund, OR
• a free change of journey time

It doesn’t matter what type of ticket you purchased (e.g. Advance, Anytime).

You can also get a refund if you choose not to travel due to the strikes. National Rail advises: “If you have a ticket dated for one of the strike days you will be able to use your ticket on an alternative day.

“Journeys that include travel on non-National Rail services (e.g. London Underground, DLR or ferry service) may require a new ticket for that leg of your journey if travelling on any date other than shown on your ticket.”

Whether you want a refund or to amend your journey, you need to contact the company that sold you the ticket - whether that is the individual operator such as South Western Rail or GWR, or a third-party booking website such as Thetrainline.com.

If changing the date and time of your journey works better for you, it’s worth noting that most companies tend to increase ticket flexibility around strikes day. In guidance around November’s train strikes, National Rail advised travellers that they could use tickets on the same route/operator in the three days following on from the strike dates. The Independent has contacted National Rail to clarify this will remain the case in December and January.

For example, Southwestern Railway advises: “Tickets for 13, 14, 16, 17 December can instead be used the day before the date on the ticket, or up to and including Tuesday 20 December.”

This policy usually excludes both Season Tickets and London Underground tickets.

Several operators, such as Southwestern, have now organised dedicated web pages advising next steps for those with a journey affected by the strikes.

Almost all train operators provide compensation regardless of the cause of a cancellation – which is in contrast to airlines, who do not need to pay out if the delay is beyond their control.

What if the strikes cause a delay rather than a cancellation?

If your UK train is delayed due to the strikes, you are legally entitled to “Delay Repay” compensation. This depends on how many minutes you were delayed due to the train disruption.

• If you were delayed 15-29 minutes, you can claim 25 per cent of the price of a single ticket and 12.5 per cent on a return ticket.
• If you were delayed 30-59 minutes, you can claim 50 per cent on a single ticket, or 25 per cent on a return ticket.
• If you were delayed 60-119 minutes, you can claim 100 per cent on a single ticket and 50 per cent on a return ticket.
• If you were delayed 120 minutes or more, you can claim a full refund on both single and return tickets.

What if I have a Season Ticket?

Season Ticket holders (monthly or longer tickets) who choose not to travel on strike days can claim 100 per cent compensation for those days through the “Delay Repay” system. You should go to the refunds area on the website of the operator or retailer you bought the ticket from.

You can also apply for an overall refund for a whole Season Ticket based on strike disruption, going through the retailer who sold you the ticket. Network Rail explains: “Refunds are calculated from the date you return your season ticket and will be the difference between the price you paid and the cost of a ticket or tickets for the period for which you have used the ticket up to and including the date you request a refund.” A £10 admin fee applies.

Northern Railway's refunds area (https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/)

How do I claim a refund or Delay Repay compensation?

Your refund should come from the original retailer of your ticket - be that an individual rail operator or a third-party website. For most operators, a dedicated Delay Repay or refund page will appear under their “Help” tab.

Third party booking site Thetrainline.com advises: “As soon as we’re told by the train operators that your train is cancelled or rescheduled, we’ll be in contact to offer you an online refund. Please hold tight in the meantime.”

You should try to claim within 28 days, but some train companies allow longer.

To claim, you’ll need to provide your contact details, a copy of your ticket or proof of purchase, as well as details of your journey (origin and destination stations, scheduled departure time, and the time you arrived).