We aim to provide the best possible service for our passengers. Unfortunately, delays do occur from time to time and we understand the frustration and inconvenience this causes. We want to take every opportunity to extend our apologies and compensate you fairly.
Our Delay Repay scheme provides compensation to customers who arrive at their destination station 15 minutes or more later than they should have done because a Northern train was delayed or cancelled.
Customers now have the opportunity to donate their compensation directly to the Samaritans too. We hope that with this continued support to the Samaritans, we can help the charity to keep delivering their around the clock service to anyone who many need it.
The compensation due varies based on the length of the delay you suffered and the type and cost of the ticket you travelled with.
| Ticket type | ||
| Length Of Delay Suffered | Single | Return |
| 15 Minutes to 29 Minutes | 25% of the ticket cost | 12.5% of the ticket cost |
| 30 Minutes to 59 Minutes | 50% of the ticket cost | 25% of the ticket cost |
| 60 Minutes to 119 Minutes | 100% of the ticket cost | 50% of the ticket cost |
| Over 120 Minutes | 100% of the ticket cost | 100% of the ticket cost |
Compensation in Free Northern tickets
Customers can also request to be compensated in the form of one or more free tickets for use on any Northern service. Please the below table for further details.
| Length of Delay Suffered | Free Ticket Compensation |
| 15 Minutes to 29 Minutes | None Available |
| 30 Minutes to 59 Minutes | 1 Single Ticket |
| 60 Minutes to 119 Minutes | 1 Return Ticket |
| 120 Minutes or more | 2 Return Tickets |
Delay Repay Compensation for season ticket holders** Please note if you are travelling on a complimentary travel voucher and you suffer a delay of 60 minutes or more we will provide a replacement complimentary ticket.**
Season ticket holders are also eligible for compensation at the same level as other ticket holders. The cost of the ticket for the relevant journey is calculated by pro-rating using a typical number of journeys, as shown in the table below. The amount of compensation is then calculated as for a single ticket.
For example, for a delay of 20 minutes, on a season ticket costing £100 per week, the cost of the ticket for the relevant journey would be calculated at £10, and a 20-minute delay would qualify for 25% compensation. So, the compensation available through Delay Repay would be £2.50.
Season ticket passengers delayed for 30 minutes or longer are also eligible to be compensated in free tickets – see the paragraph above for more details
| Season Ticket Type | Cost Per Journey Calculation |
| Weekly | Cost of the ticket / 10 Journeys per week |
| Monthly | Cost of the ticket / 40 Journeys per Month |
| Quarterly | Cost of the ticket / 120 Journeys per quarter |
| Annual | Cost of the ticket / 464 Journeys per year |
| Length Of Delay | Compensation Due |
| 15 Minutes to 29 Minutes | 25% of the Journey cost |
| 30 Minutes to 59 Minutes | 50% of the Journey cost |
| 60 Minutes to 119 Minutes | 100% of the Journey cost |
| 120 Minutes or more | 100% of the Journey cost |
Making a claim
In order to make a claim you will need to upload an image of the ticket that you used for travel. Please ensure you retain your ticket and if exiting at a station with ticket barriers please ensure you ask a member of staff to let you through to prevent the ticket being retained in the barrier.
For mobile tickets please ensure the ticket price is visible on the image you upload. If the ticket has expired and no price is visible then please upload the booking confirmation email as well as the ticket image so that we can process your claim. All claims must be made within 28 days of travelling.
We recommend all customers register for an account on our Delay Repay portal – this is managed by a third party, so you will need a separate account to the one you have on our website or app. Once you have created your account you can track the progress of your claim to completion.
Compensation can be paid by one of the following methods:
- A refund directly to your bank account or a credit / debit card.
- A free ticket for a Northern service if the delay exceeds 30 minutes.
- National Rail travel vouchers that can be used to purchase a ticket at any ticket office.
- A cashable voucher for claims with a value of up to £50 that can be exchanged for cash at a Northern ticket office.
If you did not complete your journey by train or alternative transport provided by Northern click here for more information.
For more information, check out our frequently asked questions.