From this weekend, rail passengers affected by cancelled train services will have a wider range of alternative train companies to choose from at no extra cost.

(c) Avanti West Coast

Under the policy, passengers with a valid ticket can travel on another operator’s train departing up to two hours before or after the cancelled service, using either the same route or a reasonable alternative.

They will not need to buy or download another ticket, although they must show their original ticket to staff on the replacement service.

The change is intended to reduce the uncertainty passengers currently face when a train is cancelled. At present, travellers may have to wait while operators arrange ticket acceptance, buy another ticket or abandon their journey.

Cross-operator ticket acceptance is already available between publicly owned train operators. From Sunday, the arrangement will be extended to include Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry and Great Western Railway (GWR).

Adding the four operators will bring several of the country’s principal intercity routes into the scheme, although the automatic acceptance arrangements will apply only to participating companies and within the two-hour window.

Rail Minister Lord Hendy described the reform as a “simple, common-sense change” intended to prevent passengers being stranded by the fragmented structure of the railway.

“No one should be left stranded because of a fragmented railway when their journey is disrupted,” he said.

“From this weekend, if your train is cancelled, you can get on another operator’s service and carry on your journey without paying again.”

The government said the change forms part of wider reforms ahead of the creation of Great British Railways (GBR), which is intended to bring the railway under stronger public control.

Who is covered?

Following this weekend’s expansion, the following operators will take part in the scheme.

Existing operators in the scheme

C2c
Gatwick Express
Greater Anglia
Great Northern
LNER
London Northwestern Railway
Northern
Southeastern
Southern
Thameslink
South Western Railway
Transpennine Express
West Midlands Railway

New operators from 20th Sept 2026

Avanti West Coast
Chiltern Railways
CrossCountry
Great Western Railway

East Midlands Railway will join the scheme later.