Delay - no repay or not to repay? Is that the question?

reduke · 20 Aug 2026

So I am currently on a journey via London that is 28 minutes delayed on the inbound, and having 90 minutes to think about it I had a few speculative questions... feel free to ignore any silly ones...

If I am delayed on the way to a connection and could make up the time by running, should I run? And should I claim if I choose not to?

If I can reduce the amount I am delayed by by running and I choose to, should I try somehow to tell the TOC of my efforts? (and does that mean that if by running I am not delayed at all, I can't claim but those who didn't run can?)

If I arrive delayed 30+ at a connection and I make an earlier connection that delays me by only 15+, should I correct the TOC if they rule I was delayed by 30+?

If I am delayed by 1hr+1min into my connection and decide to go to the pub instead of scanning the departure boards, who actually cares? If I wait 30 minutes with a pint does it mean I am delayed 90 mins, even though I could have reduced my delay to 30+ by stressing about the departure boards and sprinting across?

I love rhetorical/theoretical questions, so thank you for your input...

(for the avoidance of doubt, I am definitely delayed on my journey - I always make fast connections, so any delay on the inbound means I am delayed on the outbound. If I miss the outbound train I planned for by less than the inbound delay, I will claim delay repay, even if I was not officially able to make the connection. I could have waited and claimed the delay on a later train, but that just seems pointless (and actually a lie?)....)

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bcarmicle · 20 Aug 2026

reduke said:
If I am delayed on the way to a connection and could make up the time by running, should I run? And should I claim if I choose not to?

You are under no obligation to run, and indeed the TOC may prefer that you don't run, as it would look unfortunate if you were to slip and fall in an attempt to mitigate their delay.

reduke said:
If I can reduce the amount I am delayed by by running and I choose to, should I try somehow to tell the TOC of my efforts? (and does that mean that if by running I am not delayed at all, I can't claim but those who didn't run can?)

You should claim for the amount that you are actually delayed by. So if you are not delayed, then you are not eligible for a Delay Repay claim.

reduke · 20 Aug 2026

bcarmicle said:
You should claim for the amount that you are actually delayed by. So if you are not delayed, then you are not eligible for a Delay Repay claim.

Ok, but when a TOC gives you more compensation than you claimed for (as has happened to me), would you (edit: try to) give it back?

py_megapixel · 20 Aug 2026

reduke said:
So I am currently on a journey via London that is 28 minutes delayed on the inbound, and having 90 minutes to think about it I had a few speculative questions... feel free to ignore any silly ones...

If I am delayed on the way to a connection and could make up the time by running, should I run? And should I claim if I choose not to?

If I can reduce the amount I am delayed by by running and I choose to, should I try somehow to tell the TOC of my efforts? (and does that mean that if by running I am not delayed at all, I can't claim but those who didn't run can?)

If I arrive delayed 30+ at a connection and I make an earlier connection that delays me by only 15+, should I correct the TOC if they rule I was delayed by 30+?

If I am delayed by 1hr+1min into my connection and decide to go to the pub instead of scanning the departure boards, who actually cares? If I wait 30 minutes with a pint does it mean I am delayed 90 mins, even though I could have reduced my delay to 30+ by stressing about the departure boards and sprinting across?

I love rhetorical/theoretical questions, so thank you for your input...

(for the avoidance of doubt, I am definitely delayed on my journey - I always make fast connections, so any delay on the inbound means I am delayed on the outbound. If I miss the outbound train I planned for by less than the inbound delay, I will claim delay repay, even if I was not officially able to make the connection. I could have waited and claimed the delay on a later train, but that just seems pointless (and actually a lie?)....)

My understanding (not legal advice) is that it depends on the minimum connection time. At most smaller stations this is 5 minutes but it is increased at larger stations, including the London terminals. If you are changing between London terminals then an extra allowance is added on for you to travel between them.

So there are four situations:
1. Time between trains is at least the MCT and you make the connection. This is what should normally happen and of course you can't claim DR.
2. Time between trains is less than MCT but you make the connection anyway. In this case you can't claim DR because you weren't actually delayed.
3. Time between trains is less than MCT and you miss the connection. This is the textbook case where you CAN claim delay repay.
4. Time between trains is at least the MCT but you miss the connection anyway. This could occur if you had deliberately allowed extra time to change trains (e.g. because of a disability that means this takes you longer) and a delay meant this extra time was no longer available. I suspect the railway's automated system would by default decline a delay repay claim in such circumstances but I don't think the rules actually disallow it (somebody would have to confirm).

If you miss a connection then it makes no difference at all whether you stay in the station or go to the pub while waiting for the next train. Although wherever you are it's a good idea to keep an eye on the online departure boards in case the situation changes and you can make an earlier connection than previously thought

Bletchleyite · 20 Aug 2026

reduke said:
Ok, but when a TOC gives you more compensation than you claimed for (as has happened to me), would you (edit: try to) give it back?

I have done. TPE in particular do have a means of repaying it if you contact customer services. I might not have done but due to the high value of the ticket it was a very substantial sum.

I have also donated smaller sums to charity.

This is in line with what I'd do if I found similar sums in the street (legally theft by finding if you keep it). A fiver on the floor I'd probably pick up, look round to see if I could see whose it was and if not I'd put it in a charity box. A wallet with 200 quid I would make effort to return.

pokemonsuper9 · 20 Aug 2026

reduke said:
Ok, but when a TOC gives you more compensation than you claimed for (as has happened to me), would you (edit: try to) give it back?

I certainly wouldn't, free money!
Keep the money and next time you're travelling by train treat the money you got as a discount.

Tetchytyke · 20 Aug 2026

reduke said:
Ok, but when a TOC gives you more compensation than you claimed for (as has happened to me), would you (edit: try to) give it back?

When it’s happened to me, I’ve assumed that the high-tech railway industry systems are right and I am wrong, and therefore their calculation is correct.

I’m always careful to claim my actual delay, not a hypothetical delay that I might have had if I hadn’t run.

teaspoon · 21 Aug 2026

py_megapixel said:
2. Time between trains is less than MCT but you make the connection anyway. In this case you can't claim DR because you weren't actually delayed.

there's a 2b.:
the first train (operated by TOC A) is delayed enough to take your connection under the MCT, but you still make the second train (operated by TOC B). The second train is significantly delayed; so you claim delay repay from TOC B. TOC A rejects the claim and passes it back to TOC A.
Do you appeal the TOC B claim, or just let bureaucracy run its course?

mmh · 21 Aug 2026

Some overthinking here.

teaspoon said:
there's a 2b.:
the first train (operated by TOC A) is delayed enough to take your connection under the MCT, but you still make the second train (operated by TOC B). The second train is significantly delayed; so you claim delay repay from TOC B. TOC A rejects the claim and passes it back to TOC A.
Do you appeal the TOC B claim, or just let bureaucracy run its course?

The answer here is: as you know the system and how it works, claim from TOC A in the first place.

JBuchananGB · 21 Aug 2026

I normally submit the DR Claim to the first TOC which contributed to the delay, along with the intended itinerary and the actual delay incurred.
Most recently on 23 April using an Off-Peak Return I was delayed on the 13.43 Liverpool Lime Street to Euston with final destination Billericay. This service was terminated at Nuneaton and I travelled via Leicester & St. Pancras, incurring a 90 minute delay. Avanti West Coast treated it as excess of 2 hours and refunded the full price of the Return ticket. I saw no reason to disagree with them.

Bletchleyite · 21 Aug 2026

JBuchananGB said:
I normally submit the DR Claim to the first TOC which contributed to the delay, along with the intended itinerary and the actual delay incurred.
Most recently on 23 April using an Off-Peak Return I was delayed on the 13.43 Liverpool Lime Street to Euston with final destination Billericay. This service was terminated at Nuneaton and I travelled via Leicester & St. Pancras, incurring a 90 minute delay. Avanti West Coast treated it as excess of 2 hours and refunded the full price of the Return ticket. I saw no reason to disagree with them.

The system used by FirstGroup and ex-FirstGroup TOCs (Avanti, GWR, TPE and SWR) is notorious for paying 2 hour claims when that isn't due and the user hasn't asked for that. It seems to be that if a minimum connection time is fouled the system assumes the connection was missed even if it wasn't, and pays accordingly even if the user doesn't claim the higher sum.

It's down to individuals' morals as to what they do as a result of that.

It must be costing the railway thousands a day, so it's amazing they don't seek to fix it. The railway is normally good at fixing stuff when doing so is to its financial advantage, e.g. closing fare loopholes posted on here.

MrJeeves · 21 Aug 2026

I am always happy to claim using the MCTs under the principle that if the railway imposes them on me (e.g., through unrealistically long connections on itineraries with advance tickets), I should impose them back when claiming compensation in principle.

styles · 21 Aug 2026

reduke said:
Ok, but when a TOC gives you more compensation than you claimed for (as has happened to me), would you (edit: try to) give it back?

Personally, no.

And my reasoning for this is that the average casual (i.e. less regular) traveller is possibly not even aware of the Delay Repay scheme, let alone what the compensation amounts are for varying levels of delay.

Furthermore, an operator issuing a great than obligation compensation may be doing it out of generosity, so by retaining it you're not assuming they've made a mistake necessarily. Both on principle and on the practicalities of pursuing the passenger for a rebate on an overpayment, the operator would have no recourse unless the compensation amount had been clearly agreed beforehand and then an overpayment had been made.

Delay - no repay or not to repay? Is that the question?

reduke

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bcarmicle

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reduke

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Bletchleyite

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pokemonsuper9

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teaspoon

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mmh

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styles

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