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What Ticket Acceptance Means
Normally your ticket is only valid on the trains, companies and routes it says. Ticket acceptance is when other train companies, or sometimes the Tube and buses, accept it during disruption so you can still get where you're going.
For cancelled trains there is now a standing scheme. The Department for Transport says it was already in place across the publicly owned train companies, and that CrossCountry, GWR, Avanti West Coast and Chiltern Railways joined it on Sunday 20 September 2026.
The Rules When Your Train Is Cancelled
- Within 2 hours: you can use your ticket on a participating company's train leaving up to 2 hours before or 2 hours after your cancelled train.
- Cancellations only: National Rail says it is for cancelled trains, not delays.
- Bought beforehand: the ticket must have been bought before the cancelled train's departure time.
- A sensible route: the Department for Transport says a direct or reasonable alternative route.
- Show your ticket: show your original ticket to staff on the train you take. You don't need a new ticket.
Which Train Companies Take Part
| Train company | In the scheme | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Avanti West Coast | Yes, since 20 Sept 2026 | Guide |
| c2c | Yes | Guide |
| Caledonian Sleeper | Not listed | Guide |
| Chiltern Railways | Yes, since 20 Sept 2026 | Guide |
| CrossCountry | Yes, since 20 Sept 2026 | Guide |
| East Midlands Railway | Joining later | Guide |
| Gatwick Express | Yes | Guide |
| Great Northern | Yes | Guide |
| Greater Anglia | Yes | Guide |
| GWR | Yes, since 20 Sept 2026 | Guide |
| Hull Trains | Not listed | Guide |
| LNER | Yes | Guide |
| London Northwestern Railway | Yes | Guide |
| Lumo | Not listed | Guide |
| Northern | Yes | Guide |
| ScotRail | Not listed | Guide |
| South Western Railway | Yes | Guide |
| Southeastern | Yes | Guide |
| Southern | Yes | Guide |
| Stansted Express | Greater Anglia is listed | Guide |
| Thameslink | Yes | Guide |
| TransPennine Express | Yes | Guide |
| Transport for Wales | Not listed | Guide |
| West Midlands Railway | Yes | Guide |
From National Rail's ticket acceptance page and the Department for Transport's announcement, both checked 22 October 2026. A company that isn't listed may still accept tickets on the day: ask staff.
Your Own Train Company's Other Trains
Separately, if your train is cancelled after you bought your ticket, you can normally travel up to two trains before or after it with the same company (National Rail Conditions of Travel, condition 28.3). This covers Advance tickets, which are otherwise only valid on the train booked.
LNER says that with an LNER ticket you can use any LNER train within 2 hours before or after your cancelled one. More for Advance tickets in Delay Repay on an Advance Ticket.
When Your Train Is Only Delayed
The scheme doesn't cover delays. During bigger disruption, train companies often arrange ticket acceptance on other companies' trains, the Tube or buses for that day only. Ask station staff, or check the train company's disruption page, before you board.
If a late train makes you miss a booked connection, you can take the next train of the company you were booked with (condition 9.4).
Claiming Delay Repay After Ticket Acceptance
You claim from the company whose train was cancelled, not the one that got you there, for how late you reached your destination compared with when the cancelled train was due. See Went Another Way: Can You Still Claim Delay Repay? and Delay Repay for a Cancelled Train.
On a strike day the rules can differ: see Delay Repay on Strike Days. More on how Delay Repay works.
Questions
What does ticket acceptance mean?
Another train company, or sometimes the Tube or buses, accepting your ticket during disruption, so you can still finish your journey without buying a new one.
Does ticket acceptance apply if my train is only delayed?
Not under the standing scheme, which is for cancellations. Companies sometimes arrange it for delays on the day: ask staff.
How long does ticket acceptance last?
For a cancelled train, you can use a participating company's train leaving up to 2 hours before or 2 hours after it.
Does my Advance ticket get ticket acceptance?
The scheme covers a valid ticket for a cancelled train, and Advance tickets can also be used up to two trains before or after on the same company. Ask staff if you're unsure.
Can I use the Tube on my train ticket during disruption?
Only when Transport for London (TfL) accepts it that day. It's arranged incident by incident, so ask staff before you travel.
Who do I claim Delay Repay from if I used ticket acceptance?
The company whose train was cancelled, for how late you reached your destination.
Sources
- National Rail: ticket acceptance
- Department for Transport: new scheme to help stranded rail passengers (14 September 2026)
- National Rail Conditions of Travel (30 July 2026)
- LNER: Delay Repay
- TransPennine Express: Delay Repay
Train company terms checked 6 October 2026. Terms change: if something here doesn't match the train company's own page, the company's page is right. Tell us and we'll fix it. Railhop fills in the train company's own claim form, and you check it and submit it yourself. Railhop is not affiliated with any train company, TfL or National Rail.