A serious fault which caused major train disruption for commuters across the UK has been fixed.
Network Rail said there was a problem with the onboard ‘GSM-R’ communications system used between drivers and signallers on services across England and Scotland.
The fault did not affect the safety of running trains as staff were able to use alternative methods.
However, passengers were warned to expect short-notice cancellations and delays as trains had to start their journeys later.
The problem caused misery for passengers during the morning rush hour.
Network Rail confirmed at around midday on Friday that the issue had been fixed.
Operators affected include ScotRail, Great Northern, Southern Rail and Thameslink.
The Elizabeth Line to Heathrow and the Gatwick Express have also been affected, with passengers warned to check their journey before travelling with “delays and alterations” possible.
In a post on X, National Rail said services “may be cancelled, delayed by up to 15 minutes or revised” and that it is expected this will last until at least midday on Friday.
South Western Railway was among the operators to cancel some services.
It said in a message to passengers: “We have been informed of a national issue with communication systems affecting service this morning.
“This means that trains may be delayed before they start their journey.
“This is because it is preventing our train drivers from contacting the respective signalling centre this morning and a reset is having to be performed before the train can start its journey.”
Elizabeth line trains serving Reading and Heathrow airport are affected.
ScotRail passengers are being permitted to travel via “any reasonable route” because of the issue.
A Network Rail spokesperson said: “An overnight fault with our railway radio system in England and Wales has been traced to one of our major hubs near Stoke, which has now been fixed.
“The fault meant that train drivers were having to manually log into the national radio network rather than it happening automatically.
“The system is now working normally. We’re sorry if your journey has been affected today as a result of this issue.”
GSM-R is designed to enable driver and signallers to communicate digitally at all times, including while trains are in areas such as tunnels and deep cuttings where previous analogue systems did not work.
It was rolled out to increase safety and reduce costs by replacing the patchwork of inefficient legacy systems which were expensive to maintain.
Am I entitled to compensation if my train is delayed/cancelled?
How much am I entitled to?
This depends on how long you were delayed, how much you paid for your ticket, and the type of ticket.Under the National Rail Conditions of Travel, passengers who arrive at least an hour later than scheduled are entitled to a minimum of half the price paid for a single ticket, or a quarter of the price paid for a return ticket.
But many operators go beyond this.
Does every operator pay the same compensation?
No. Many operators use the Delay Repay scheme.DR15 makes payouts after delays of 15 minutes, while DR30 only offers compensation for delays of half an hour.
A few operators such as the Elizabeth line, Heathrow Express and Merseyrail use their own individual systems.
What do DR15 operators offer for delays of 15-29 minutes?
A quarter of the price paid for a single ticket, or 12.5% of the price paid for a return ticket.
How about for 30-59 minutes?
Half the price paid for a single ticket, or a quarter of the price paid for a return ticket.
I’ve been delayed by at least an hour. What about 60-199 minutes?
The full price paid for a single ticket, or half the price paid for a return ticket.
This journey has been a nightmare. How about delays of at least two hours?
The full price paid, whether it was for a single or return ticket.
What if I have a season ticket?
You will be refunded the proportionate cost of the price of your season ticket, at the same rate as single tickets.
This is calculated on an estimated number of single journeys, such as 464 for an annual ticket, 40 for a monthly ticket and 10 for a weekly ticket.
How do I claim?
Claims can be made online or by post using a form downloaded from an operator’s website or obtained from a station.
Do any operators pay compensation automatically?
Avanti West Coast and Transport for Wales are among those offering a more automated system.
Passengers who have pre-registered and bought a ticket online direct from an operator are sent an email when it is detected they are eligible for compensation.
They are required to confirm the details of their journey, and then the payment is made.
How quickly must I claim?
Delay Repay claims must be submitted within 28 days of a journey.
How are payments made?
Passengers are given several options for how they would like to receive payouts, which often include bank transfer, PayPal and travel vouchers.
Some operators provide the option for money to be directly donated to charity.
How much compensation is paid out?
Department for Transport figures show 15 operators paid out a total of £139 million in compensation during the 2023/24 financial year.
What if I choose not to travel because a train is cancelled or delayed?
You can return the ticket to the original retailer for a full refund.
