Long-suffering commuters in Kent look set to get compensation if their trains are late or cancelled.

Southeastern season ticket holders will be entitled to a refund of 50 per cent of the equivalent fare if their journey is delayed by 30 minutes or more, according to Greg Clark, the MP for Tunbridge Wells.

Passengers whose trains are held up for an hour or longer would be paid the full single price fare, under the so-called "delay-repay" scheme.

Mr Clark said: "Rail passengers feel they have had a very raw deal over the past few years so this will provide some very welcome relief.

"During the terrible problems experienced by commuters over the winter, the thing that most people complained about was the unfair compensation scheme for season ticket holders, whereby they only received a five per cent discount on renewal if performance targets were met.

"Passengers were understandably furious about this so I asked Southeastern whether they would consider changing the system to 'delay-repay', which is already used by many other UK rail companies."

Southeastern would not confirm any details of the new scheme, which it is thought will be introduced next Friday, described by Mr Clark as a "red letter day for rail passengers".