Most train users unaware of rights, says rail regulator

Most train passengers are unaware of their rights to compensation after cancellations or delays, the rail regulator has said.

As many as 75% of those using Britain's railways do not know enough about claiming money back, said the study for the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR).

For example, passengers choosing not to travel after a delay or cancellation are entitled to a full refund.

This is an inherently British trait of having rights in place but nobody knowing what they are or when they apply.

Another problem is that if you get someone who is aware of the regulations and what they are entitled to if a company fails to provide a service, usually the company point blank refuses to acknowledge it did anything wrong and blames someone else, and by the time you wrangle it out of them that they are the ones responsible the compensation you get for the effort you’ve had to exert is a joke.

On the rail compensation is usually a voucher, which when you think about it is stupid imagine staying in a shocking hotel and when you complain the manager hands you a voucher that means the next time you stay their it’ll cost you fractionally less, oh thank you so much.

Now the regulators have identified and acknowledged this problem now comes the all important bit, doing something about it.

As that’s another inherently British trait acknowledging a problem and saying someone should really do something about that, when it’s their job to do so.