A SCHEME to compensate rail passengers for disruption following the May timetable change in northern England has been extended to include regular travellers who did not hold season tickets.

The initiative enables passengers who travelled with train operator Northern this summer to claim for additional payouts beyond the regular Delay Repay scheme for individual journeys.

The amount of money which can be claimed varies depending on how much the route travelled was affected.

Passengers must have evidence of travelling on at least 12 days in a 28-day window for the most disrupted routes, and three days in a seven-day window for the second tier of routes.

The scheme was previously limited to season ticket holders. It has been brokered with Transport for the North and covers disruption before and after timetables were changed on May 20.

Anyone who believes they may be eligible should visit Northern's website for more information.

Claims can be submitted from October 9 for eight weeks.

South Lakes MP Tim Farron said: “It seemed frankly bizarre that Northern had until this point opted to miss out compensating many passengers who’s lives had been so badly disrupted during the summer.

“It’s good news that they’ve finally seen sense and are now doing something to make amends for their pathetic performance over the summer.

“However, this must not hide the fact that while service has improved, the cancellations keep on coming – 8 on the Lakes Line and 12 on the Furness Line over the past week alone.

“Our view has not changed that Northern need to be sacked and an operator that cares about running a decent service be put in charge.”

Transport Focus chief executive Anthony Smith said: "Transport Focus has long made the case that regular passengers - such as part-time workers - affected by timetable disruption deserve compensation.

"Widening compensation to non-season ticket holders who travel regularly is a welcome step in rebuilding passengers' trust.

"It's now important that train companies actively encourage passengers to claim and make it both quick and easy to do so."

Northern cancelled up to 310 trains each day after new timetables were launched.

An interim report by the rail regulator published last week warned of a "lack of clarity about roles and responsibilities".