National Rail says it is ‘working to tackle fare evasion which costs the industry millions’
National Rail is changing the conditions on refunds for some train tickets from the start of next month. It says changes are being introduced affecting anytime tickets, off-peak tickets, day travelcards, rover tickets, and ranger tickets.
From Wednesday, April 1, if you have one of those tickets and decide not to use it you will have until 11.59pm the day before it becomes valid to request a refund from the retailer which sold it to you.
After that you will only be able to claim a refund if your train service has been delayed or cancelled or if an exceptional circumstance has stopped you from travelling, National Rail says. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here.
A statement reads: “We will be ending the practice of accepting refund claims up to 28 days after the date of travel.
“We’re working to tackle fare evasion which costs the industry millions annually.
“The changes will stop fraudulent claims for refunds on tickets that have been used for travel.
“They bring our terms and conditions into line with the railways of most other countries where most day tickets are not refundable once they become valid for travel.”
It adds that if you do not travel or complete your journey because your train is delayed, cancelled, or rescheduled you can still claim a refund from the retailer that sold you your ticket.
Delay Repay also still applies when you have used your ticket to travel but been delayed.
It adds: “The refund conditions are based on the date of purchase, not the date of travel. If you bought your ticket prior to April 1 it will be processed in accordance with the rules that were in place when your ticket was purchased.”
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