A system to automatically pay compensation to rail passengers hit by delays is set to be introduced in the UK.
Virgin Trains passengers will receive money directly on their payment cards within three days if their journey is delayed by at least half an hour.
The scheme is available to people who buy Advance tickets through the operator's website or mobile app.
The government has called for the system to be rolled out nationwide.
Virgin estimates it will pay out an extra STG2.8 million ($A6.02 million) under the new scheme. This is because many people do not use the existing online claim form.
About 5 per cent of trains run by the operator were either cancelled, late by more than 30 minutes or failed to make a scheduled stop in the 12 months to September 19, according to Network Rail figures.
On that basis it was the joint second worst performing operator in England and Wales, behind Govia Thameslink Railway.
About 3.5 million journeys on the West Coast Main Line will fall under the terms of the Automatic Delay Repay (ADR) system each year and be eligible for compensation if delayed.
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has described the development as "fantastic news".
"Virgin Trains are making the most of modern technology to improve the service customers get," he said on Friday.
"Our plan is to make sure passengers across the country benefit from schemes like this and we are encouraging other operators to roll out similar schemes nationwide."
Mike Hewitson, head of policy at independent watchdog Transport Focus, said: "This is a great step forward and we would like to see this system introduced across all operators and ticket types."
ADR only applies for Advance tickets when a specific train has been booked.
Delays of 30-59 minutes will result in the return of 50 per cent of the cost of a single ticket or the relevant portion of a return ticket.
Delays of 60-119 minutes will mean 100 per cent of the cost will be returned on a single ticket or the relevant portion of a return ticket
And delays of two hours or longer will mean 100 per cent of the cost of a single will be paid or both portions of a return ticket.
