More than £20m in delay repay passenger refunds paid by avanti west coast this summer

Compensation bill keeps rising

Avanti West Coast paid out more than £20m for disrupted journeys over three months this summer. Its compensation covers slow or cancelled services on Britain’s main intercity rail network.

Official figures show delay repay costs have risen across the railway in recent years. Avanti was the largest payer, and its summer total was unprecedented for the operator.

The company paid more than £50m in 2025-26 and is expected to exceed £70m this financial year. Fare inflation, increased publicity about passenger rights and more automated repayments have contributed to the wider rise in claims.

Long-distance routes pay most

Long-distance operators tend to pay the largest sums. Their fares are often higher, and delays are more likely to reach the 60-minute point at which passengers can receive a full fare refund.

In 2025, GWR paid £29.7m and LNER paid £28m, making them the next-highest refunders. GWR runs services from Wales and the south-west to London, while LNER operates between London and Scotland on the east coast mainline. LNER compensates customers after delays of 30 minutes, but did not provide updated financial data.

Avanti cites causes of delays

Avanti said it was directly responsible for 23% of delays between May and August. It attributed most of the others to Network Rail, other operators or external events, including trespass on the line.

A company spokesperson said, “We apologise to customers affected by train delays.” The operator said it was working with industry partners to improve punctuality and reliability. Avanti said the payments recognise disruption and help maintain confidence in rail travel. It has also increased publicity for the scheme, including clearer and more frequent onboard announcements and social media updates.