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Amtrak refunds: what to know (and how to cancel) if your train travel plans change

• by Jared Wilder
• May 29, 2023 May 29, 2023

Amtrak is expensive , there’s no way around that. If you’ve booked a trip that you can no longer go on, the money you spent is going to be the first thing on your mind. Let’s take a dive into Amtrak’s refund policies:

Does Amtrak give refunds?

The simple answer is yes, Amtrak does give refunds. Most of the time, if you have to cancel your Amtrak trip (or Amtrak cancels a route), you can get a refund. That said, some tickets are only partially refundable , such as saver fares. Furthermore, the timing of your cancellation makes a big difference – if you wait too long, you could be looking at a hefty cancellation fee, or worse, not getting a refund at all.

Here are all the different cancellation reasons that are eligible for refunds

Amtrak’s cancellation policy is pretty simple, even if it does have a few different rules that govern how much you can get back. But before we talk about those rules, let’s look at what types of trip changes and cancellations are eligible for a refund:

1. Passenger cancellations

Plain old cancellations, no explanation required. You can cancel your ticket online or over the phone. Depending on the type of fare, and the timing of your cancellation, you may receive a full or partial refund. More on this, including which types of tickets are refund eligible, below.

Blizzards, hurricanes, earthquakes, and more – Amtrak covers areas that are plagued by all sorts of bad weather events. If weather prevents a train from leaving the station, all riders will be given a full refund. You can find more information about these types of events on Amtrak’s service alerts page . The service alerts page includes the Amtrak Alerts twitter feed, which announces all sorts of cancellations, delays, and disruptions:

3. Rail worker strikes

This is something most of us don’t think about, but was national news just a few months ago. Rail worker unions have a powerful chip to play: strikes. When a rail worker strike was predicted in September 2022, Amtrak preemptively canceled every trip outside the northeast to avoid the transit disaster that a strike would have caused. Fortunately, the workers got what they needed, and the strike was avoided. 

4. Damage to trains or tracks

A couple of times a year, an Amtrak train crashes . Often, the crashes are minor, but they all throw a wrench in Amtrak’s system. If a crashed train or damaged tracks makes your journey impossible, you should receive either a full refund or a travel voucher from Amtrak. 

Amtrak cancellation policy by ticket type

While Amtrak does give refunds for passenger cancellations, there are some rules and stipulations that apply based on the type of ticket you booked. Amtrak has a few different

Applicable to all Fares

No matter what type of ticket you buy, you can get a full refund within 24 hours of your purchase. We can just call this the “oops policy”, where if you book a ticket and quickly realize you don’t need it, you can get all your money back just as quickly. 

• Within 24 hours: Full refund
• After 24 hours: No refund, 75% voucher available
• 15 or more days before departure: Full refund
• 14 days or less before departure: 25% cancellation fee

Flexible Fare

If you booked a Flexible Fare ticket, you’ve got nothing to worry about. One of the perks about paying more for your journey is that you can get a full refund, whenever you need it, no questions asked.

Business Fare

Similar to the Flexible Fare, Business Fares allow full refunds – no fees, either – any time before departure.

Premium Fare

• Acela first class: Full refund if canceled before departure
• No fees, full refund if canceled 121 days or more before departure
• 25% cancellation fee if canceled between 15 and 120 days before departure
• 25% fee and a 75% voucher if canceled 14 days or less before departure

Illness waivers: how to get a full refund on Amtrak tickets for health reasons

Amtrak waives all fees and policies related to cancellations for people who have a medical reason for canceling their trip. If you experience a sudden illness or injury, all you need to do is provide a doctor’s note when you cancel; then, Amtrak will provide a full refund, regardless of the type of ticket you bought or how many days there are before departure.

Does Amtrak charge you for changing your ticket?

Amtrak does not currently levy a “change fee” if you need to modify your journey. For example, if you need to change your departure station, destination station, or trip dates, you won’t be charged an extra fee for doing so. While you may have to make an additional payment if the changes make your trip more expensive than the original booking, that’s not the same as a change fee. For any change made before December 31, 2023, there will be no change fee. I’ll update this section if Amtrak modifies its “change fee” policy.

How to cancel Amtrak tickets and (hopefully) get a refund

Being able to get a refund hinges upon being able to cancel the ticket. Here’s how you can cancel an amtrak ticket, either online or over the phone.

• First, head to amtrak.com
• Then, click the View/Edit button
• Finally, click “cancel trip” and the Amtrak site will guide you the rest of the way.

• Once you’ve selected your trip, click “Cancel Trip” and follow the prompts from there.

Over the Phone

• Call Amtrak at (1-800-872-7245)
• Have your name, phone number, address, and reservation number ready
• Say “Reservations” (you can say it right away to bypass having to listen to all the other options)
• Say “cancel/cancellation/I’d like to cancel” – the automated assistant will recognize what you say and take you to the next step. 
• Say your reservation number, and continue following the instructions given to cancel your trip.
• Alternatively, you can say “help” to be quickly put through to an Amtrak customer service rep (they’re really helpful and one of my favorite things about Amtrak)

How long do Amtrak refunds take to process?

Because Amtrak works with your bank to move the refunded money back into your account, and different banks have different transfer processes, there is no one answer to this question. That said, most people receive their money within 5-8 business days. 

I canceled a ticket late last year and got my money back in less than 5 business days; if you’re waiting longer than 10 business days, it’d be smart to call Amtrak and see if they can help you get your refund quicker.

Next: Does Amtrak have Wi-Fi? Yes, but it depends on the train.

If you’ve booked an auto train ticket, the same cancellation fee applies to your vehicle as applies to your passenger ticket. That’s a fancy way of saying the money you spent on adding a vehicle to your journey will be refunded according to the same rules as other types of cancellations.

If you cancel an Amtrak ticket that charges a fee, you’ll be charged between $5 and $250, depending on the original ticket price.

Yes, at any Amtrak station that has a ticket counter, you can change or modify your ticket. If you live close enough to the station and your cancellation or trip change is complex,

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How to get a refund on train tickets during a strike

Make sure that the upcoming industrial action on the railways doesn't leave you out of pocket

Rail passengers are facing yet more train strikes during April which will cause huge disruption to commuters and leisure travellers.

With train ticket prices already rising above the rate of inflation, this is just another blow for travellers already suffering from the highest train fares in Europe. But what are your rights when it comes getting a refund on strike days if your journey is delayed or cancelled?

Which train companies are planning to strike in April?

Below is a list of the dates of the planned strike action and the railway operators planning to strike on those days, with links to their refund information in case of industrial action.

You can check on the status of your journey before you travel using the National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner .

Friday 5 April

Avanti West Coast

CrossCountry

East Midlands Railway

London Northwestern Railway

West Midlands Railway

Saturday 6 April

Great Western Railway

Heathrow Express

Northern Trains

TransPennine Express

Monday 8 April

Gatwick Express

Greater Anglia (including Stansted Express)

Great Northern

Southeastern

South Western Railway/SWR Island Line

GTR Thameslink

Your rights during train strikes

Each train operating company has its own terms and conditions so visit its website for specific information (links above).

Generally speaking, if your train journey is cancelled, delayed or rescheduled, then you are entitled to a refund or partial refund from the train operator, and they should not charge you an admin fee for any changes.

If you decide not to travel on strike action days, then you should be able to get a full refund on your train ticket. According to the National Rail Conditions of Travel: 'If the train you intended to use is cancelled, delayed, or your reservation will not be honoured, and you decide not to travel, you may return the unused ticket to the original retailer or train company from whom it was purchased, where you will be given a full refund with no administration fee being charged.'

If you are a Season Ticket holder and your journey was cancelled or you decided not to travel, then you might be able to claim for a day of strike action through the Delay Repay scheme (see below).

If you had to travel on a strike day and your train journey was delayed, you are entitled to get a partial refund through the Delay Repay scheme if you were delayed by more than 15 minutes. You need to claim within 28 days. Search for Delay Repay on your train operating company's website.

How to get a refund on your train ticket

How you apply for a train ticket refund depends on whether you bought the ticket online or in person. You should apply for a refund from the retailer you purchased the ticket from.

Daily tickets – Bought online

Fill out an online refund application form or log in to your online account and search for the refund option.

Daily ticket – Bought at a ticket office

You can return your ticket to a ticket office for a full refund or post it back to the train operating company – get the address from the company website.

Advance tickets

You can apply for a refund, or exchange for an eVoucher to be used when buying another ticket. eVouchers are valid for 12 months from the date of issue.

If you have two advance tickets to make up a return ticket, then you can claim a refund for any unused tickets. This applies to either leg of the journey, so if you cannot make your outward journey because of the strike, you are entitled to a refund, even if the return journey is not affected by a strike. The same will be true if the return journey is planned for a day affected by a strike but the outward is not.

Season tickets

Season ticket holders might be able to claim under Delay Replay if they chose not to travel on strike days. For a full day refund, you can make a claim for the whole day using the ‘Industrial Action – did not travel’ option or claim for a delay of 120+ minutes, which is the value of one day's travel. Note that this usually only applies to monthly and annual season ticket holders.

For Flexi season ticket holders, on some railways, then you need to activate a pass on one of the strike days and then claim Delay Repay, using 'Industrial Action – did not travel' as the reason for delay to claim a refund.

If you had already activated the ticket and then realised you couldn't travel due to the strike action, contact your train operating company for a refund for that day.

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Train delay compensation: What are you entitled to and why?

When we travel, there’s nothing more frustrating than train delays and cancellations. Whilst a few minutes delay isn’t a huge deal, a long delay is not only annoying but can also impact our plans for the rest of the day. Fortunately, rail passengers are entitled to train delay compensation should the situation

When do you get compensation for a delayed train?

If a train is more than 15 minutes delayed , you can claim compensation for part or all of your journey. This is usually done via the Delay Repay scheme. The exact amount of compensation you receive depends on the length of the delay and whether you have a single, return, or seasonal ticket. If your train is cancelled and you decide not to travel by train, or are unable to, you are entitled to a full refund.

How to get compensation for delayed trains

Whilst you may be entitled to a refund because your train was delayed, there are some simple steps you can take to ensure you get the money you are owed.

• Make note of your train times . Many of us travel with e-tickets now that tell us exactly when our train is expected to depart and arrive, but that isn’t always the case – especially if you don’t have an advance single. If it looks like your train is going to be delayed, find out exactly when it was supposed to arrive at your destination. You may be asked for this information, and the time you left your departure station, when you apply for a refund.
• Head to the train company’s website and find their delay repay page – it is almost always the train company that must provide compensation rather than the website you bought your tickets through or the train station.
• Claim as quickly as possible. Different rail companies have slightly different rules on how quickly you need to claim via Delay Repay. The best way not to get caught out is to apply to the scheme as quickly as possible after you get off the train.
• Keep your tickets and receipts. E-tickets make it easy to save receipts, but if you have physical tickets, be sure to keep hold of them. You may be required to send a picture of them or even post them to the rail company to get your refund.
• Ask yourself if other expenses were incurred. Did you miss a bus or flight because of a delayed train? Did you have to take a taxi because your train was cancelled? Did you have to book a hotel room because of missed connections? These additional expenses, often known as ‘consequential loss’, aren’t usually paid for via the Delay Repay scheme, but you are entitled to compensation for them under the Consumer Rights Act.
• If you are still not happy with the amount of compensation offered to you, you may need to get in touch with The Rail Ombudsman – an independent organisation that offers free, expert advice for unresolved customer complaints about trains. If you go down this route, it’s even more important that you have hold of your receipts, the date and time of travel, evidence of conversations with the rail company, and any other documents that prove you are out of pocket.
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Rail strikes: Your refund rights explained if your travel is disrupted due to industrial action

A fresh wave of strike dates looks set to play havoc with people's Christmas plans - here's what you need to know if your travel is affected and what you're entitled to when it comes to refunds and delay repay.

Tuesday 13 December 2022 04:17, UK

Rail workers are preparing for several strikes over the festive period as union bosses continue the row over pay and conditions, with travellers' Christmas plans in disarray as a result.

Nationwide rail strikes are due to take place on 13-14 December, 16-17 December, from 6pm on Christmas Eve to 6am on 27 December, 3-4 January and 6-7 January.

An overtime ban from 18 December until 2 January by RMT members will also affect many train services.

Passengers who have advance tickets booked could be entitled to a refund - here's what you need to know about claiming.

Can I get a refund if my train is cancelled or delayed due to strikes?

If you have an advance ticket booked for a strike day and your service is cancelled, delayed or rescheduled, you are entitled to a change or refund. You'll need to contact the original retailer of your ticket to get your money back.

My train has been rescheduled but I don't want to travel at that time - can I get a refund?

More on Rail Strikes

Train drivers strike for third time in four days

Train strikes in April and May 2024: Full list of dates and lines affected

Train drivers at five companies vote to continue strike action for another six months - ASLEF

Related Topics:

• Rail strikes

Yes, you can get a refund if your train has been rescheduled due to strike action. Again, you'll need to do that through your original retailer.

When will I know if my journey is affected?

The National Rail Journey Planner is not yet showing timetables for strike day services.

For travel from 12 to 16 December, the Journey Planner will be correct on 10 December. For journeys on 17 and 18 December, it will be updated on 14 December.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Read more: Strikes every day before Christmas - where and why? PM to hold cabinet crisis talks after rail union adds more Christmas strikes

National Rail has not yet confirmed when the Journey Planner will be updated to reflect planned strikes over the Christmas period and in January, with travellers advised to check their website closer to the time.

Can I use my ticket to travel on a different day?

If you have an advance ticket for a strike day, you may be able to travel on the days around the strikes. The details of this are yet to be announced, so check back with your train company closer to the time.

I have a season ticket - can I get a refund?

Season ticket holders are entitled to compensation through the Delay Repay scheme for days where they are not able to travel due to strike action.

Why are workers striking?

The Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) union represents Network Rail workers, who operate railway infrastructure such as signals, and workers at 14 of the UK's 28 train companies.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said his members are striking in response to the government cutting jobs and refusing to increase pay in line with inflation.

Mr Lynch said the government plans to "attack" terms, conditions and working practices by using "fire and re-hire" and cut real-terms pay for most members through lengthy pay freezes and below RPI inflation pay rises.

The RMT wants a pay rise, which it has not put a figure on, and reassurance jobs will not be cut, as well as working practices and conditions protected.

Related Topics

Rail strikes: how to get a refund for disrupted travel

Three days of rail strikes are planned for June, but travellers may be able to get refunds for tickets they have already purchased

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Three days of rail strikes are planned for later this month. Rows over job cuts, pay freezes and pensions are the reasons why rail workers are striking , and this travel disruption follows on from the flight cancellations that blighted many holiday makers over the recent half-term and Jubilee weekend.

The strikes coincide with big events which people would likely rely on rail travel in order to attend, such as the Glastonbury festival and an England cricket match, as well as disrupting the usual commuting plans of many. 

The rail strikes are also bad news for anyone hoping to save money on fuel by travelling by train instead. Additionally, those who have tried to bag cheap train tickets by buying them in advance, may be concerned that they won’t be able to travel and won’t be able to get their money back either. 

However, if your planned rail journey is impacted you may be able to claim a refund. 

When are the rail strikes planned for and which operators will be affected? 

There are three dates planned for the rail strikes: the 21, 23 and 25 June. 

More than a dozen rail operators ‒ as well as staff at National Rail itself ‒ are involved in the strike.

Rail workers at the following firms are taking industrial action:

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• Avanti West Coast
• Chiltern Railways
• Cross Country Trains
• East Midlands Railway
• Greater Anglia
• Great Western Railway
• London Underground
• Northern Trains
• South Eastern
• South Western Railway
• TransPennine Express
• West Midlands Trains

London Underground workers are also striking on the 21 June ‒ but services on the Tube should be unaffected by the industrial action taking place on the other dates.

Why are the rail strikes happening? 

According to RMT, the trade union behind the industrial action, train operating firms have frozen staff pay for years and now plan to cut thousands of jobs, which the union claims will threaten safety standards.

The union has been arguing for a new pay proposal from rail bosses, as well as a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies, but no agreement has been reached. As the dispute has continued, more train strikes have been scheduled to take place in July and August, with Aslef - the union representing train drivers - also becoming involved in strike action, leaving many asking questions about how much train drivers earn .

The situation with London Underground members of the union is slightly different, with an ongoing dispute over pensions as well as job losses behind their decision to walk out.

Can I get a refund if I'm affected by the rail strikes? 

The rail strikes are obviously bad news if you were planning to travel by rail over the affected period. Indeed, the RMT has been clear that the industrial action will impact travel across the full week, and not just the three days on which the strikes take place.

However, you may be able to get a refund if your journey is impacted. But bear in mind, other measures will also be offered, such as rail replacement or the option to use your ticket on a different route, which may affect your chances of qualifying for a refund.

Some operators, for example, may only offer refunds if you cannot travel at all, or suffer delays when using these substitute services.

Ultimately it all comes down to the individual operator, so it’s worth speaking with them to get a clearer idea of whether you will qualify for a refund, and how to go about claiming one.

Refunds can also be claimed for season and flexi-season tickets, though be warned, there may be an admin charge to take into account.

National Rail has urged passengers to check that their planned service is still running before travelling, as well as to research alternatives should their journey be impacted. It has suspended selling ‘advance’ tickets for the days affected by the strike, until it has a better idea of its likely timetable.

The timetable will be published on the industrial action section of the National Rail website once it’s settled.

Can I get a refund for any additional costs I face because of the rail strikes? 

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to claim a refund for any additional costs you might face. It is absolutely possible that the rail strikes will lead to further costs for you to deal with. For example, if you are unable to travel home from a domestic holiday then that might mean having to pay for an extra night in a hotel.

However, additional costs won’t be covered by National Rail ‒ you’ll have to stump up the money yourself.

Can I use my existing ticket on a different day or to travel with a different train operator? 

National Rail has said that the validity of all non-season tickets will be extended because of the industrial action.

This extension runs from the day before the strike to up to two days after any strike action takes place. As a result, you may be able to use your ticket to travel at a different time, or even across a different route with a rival rail operator, in order to reach your planned destination.

However, it’s important to note that individual operators may handle it differently, so it’s important to speak to the operator to understand what’s on offer for you.

John Fitzsimons has been writing about finance since 2007, and is a former editor of Mortgage Solutions and loveMONEY. Since going freelance in 2016 he has written for publications including The Sunday Times, The Mirror, The Sun, The Daily Mail and Forbes, and is committed to helping readers make more informed decisions about their money.

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Train ticket refunds

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• Help and support /

Industrial Action

Apply for a refund if:.

• You changed your plans and didn’t make the journey at all
• Disruption meant you decided not to travel, or you weren't able to make it to your destination
• If you have a season ticket that you no longer require. Use delay repay  to claim where due to severe disruption you were unable to travel. 

Ticket type refund information

• The refund process varies according to the ticket type you have and where you purchased it. Please click on the ticket that applies to you for relevant information
• A full refund, without administration fee will be given for Advance, Anytime, Off-Peak, Super Off-Peak, Evening Out, and Sunday Out tickets where due to a cancelled, delayed or rescheduled train you choose not to travel
• You can also make a claim for expenses you've incurred during disruption

Advance tickets aren’t refundable if you decide to change your plans, but a change of journey may be made. Find out more .

In circumstances where due to a cancelled, delayed or rescheduled train you choose not to travel a full refund, without administration fee will be given.

Customers holding these tickets may change their journey to travel at a different time. The difference in fare will need to be paid.

You must apply for a refund within 28 days of the ticket's expiry date. No admin fees are charged if you submit your ticket for a refund before the first date of validity.

Refunds aren't generally allowed unless the tickets are returned before the first date of validity shown on them.

It is not possible to pause and restart your season ticket. If you are not going to be using your season ticket for some time, you should request a refund.

To qualify for a refund, you must meet the following criteria:

• Weekly - there must be at least 3 days remaining on your season ticket
• Monthly and monthly plus - there must be at least 7 days remaining on your season ticket
• Annual - there must be 7 weeks or more left on your season ticket

Season tickets are discounted, and the refund is not a fixed proportion of what you paid. Where a significant proportion of the ticket has already been used there may not be any refund value.

• Flexi Seasons typically have no refund value after 7 days use
• Weekly seasons have no refund value after 4 days use
• Monthly seasons have no refund value after 3 weeks and 4 days
• Annual seasons have no refund value after 10 months and 12 days use

You can use the Season Ticket Refund Calculator to get an estimate of how much you’ll receive for an annual or custom length (longer than one month) season ticket. The exact amount you receive may vary depending on the final validation of the refund application. In some cases there may not be any refund value left on the season ticket.

Refunds are calculated from the date you return the season ticket. If you’ve been ill, we can backdate the refund if you provide written evidence and have not started using the season ticket again. We won’t give you a refund or extend your season ticket just because you don’t use it for a period of time, for example because you’ve been on holiday.

To calculate the refund value we’ll work out the total cost of the tickets you’d have needed to buy to make one return journey a day up to the date you returned your season ticket. The refund will be the difference, if any, between this total cost and the price you paid for the season ticket, less an administration fee of £5. This also applies to season tickets with PlusBus and London Travelcards added on.

To claim a refund on a season ticket you’ll need to apply from where you bought it.

Use delay repay  to claim where due severe disruption you were unable to travel.

If you want a refund for a duplicate season ticket we issued to replace one that was lost or stolen you’ll need to contact our Customer Service Centre. We will normally give a refund for a replacement season ticket where any of the following applies:

• The original season ticket is returned within 1 month of the date you told us it was lost
• The original and replacement tickets were on smartcard and it was possible to cancel the original ticket
• You were made redundant, resigned, retired, changed your job or address, became pregnant or suffered prolonged illness, and you provide satisfactory evidence of this

We’ll also consider a refund on a replacement season ticket in other circumstances, but we may ask you to attend a meeting with us to confirm the reason for your refund.

All train companies have agreed a Code of Practice for such meetings, which can be found in the National Rail Conditions of Travel (appendix C).

If we agree to a refund, we’ll calculate the amount in the same way as for ordinary season tickets.

If you’ve applied for a replacement season ticket and had to buy tickets to travel while waiting for it to arrive, we’ll give you a full refund on the extra tickets you’ve bought. This applies only to tickets for the same journey as on your season ticket.

You can initiate a refund from your online account. Alternatively, contact our Customer Services on 0345 6000 650 or [email protected] who will arrange the refund.

You will also need to cancel the automatic payment set up in ‘My Account’ unless you want to resume travelling with the same journey the following month.

We are unable to extend the use by date.

A refund of unused tickets is available and must be requested before the expiry date.

Refunds are based on the full cost of the journeys completed less the cost of the ticket. The refund will be the difference less an administration fee of £5.

Flexi Season tickets are discounted, and the refund is not a fixed proportion of what you paid. Where a significant proportion of the ticket has already been used there may not be any refund value.

To claim a refund on a Flexi Season ticket you’ll need to apply to where you bought it from. 

It is not possible to pause and restart your season ticket. If you are not going to be using your car park season ticket for some time, you should request a refund from where it was bought.

Car park season refunds are calculated on the cost of the period parked less the cost of the ticket. The refund will be the difference less an administration fee of £5, if you are claiming a refund of a rail ticket at the same time only one fee will be charged.

Car park season tickets are discounted and where a significant proportion of the ticket has already been used there may not be any refund value.

If you forget your season ticket and have to buy another ticket to travel, we’ll refund the cost of the extra ticket.

You will need to keep the extra ticket when you request the refund, as well as show your valid season ticket and photocard. Our ticket office will give you a refund immediately, if it can. We’ll give no more than two refunds in any 12-month period:

• First occasion: we’ll give you a full refund
• Second occasion: we’ll give you a full refund, less a £5 administration charge
• Third or later occasion: no refund will be given

If you forget your Railcard and have to pay the full fare or buy another ticket, we’ll refund the extra cost if you meet the conditions listed below. If you received a Penalty Fare or Unpaid Fare Notice  for failing to show your Railcard, you can ask us to cancel it. We’ll give no more than one refund in any 12-month period.

• You must claim a refund within 28 days of the expiry date on your ticket
• You’ll need to upload a photo or scan of your Railcard and photocard, plus another form of ID that shows your full name
• Your Railcard must be valid for the day and time of travel
• You’ll need to send us the original tickets, not photocopies
• Unpaid Fare Notice please contact [email protected]

If you purchased your ticket from:

You can request a refund by logging into your online account .

If you have multiple tickets to refund, please ensure you select all tickets to be refunded.

Use the refund form below if you are applying for a refund or the following reasons:

• Advance tickets due to a cancelled, delayed or rescheduled train. Please add to the additional comments section; Journey affected by service disruption or cancellation
• The original ticket was less than £5

You can also change the date and time of travel by logging into your account and clicking ‘initiate change’. Customer Services can also assist with this.

Alternatively if you visit one of our ticket offices, they will be able to complete the change of journey process for you.

For further information about requesting a refund through your online account please click here .

If you bought your tickets at a South Western Railway ticket office or ticket machine, you can return your tickets to any South Western Railway ticket office where they will arrange your refund. This includes tickets for journeys not on the  South Western Railway network  but sold at one of our stations.

You can also claim online using the form below.

(Also see ticket machine price guarantee below)

You’ll need to claim a refund from them, including tickets sold for journeys on the South Western Railway network .

You will need to claim a refund from Transport for London if you bought a ticket from London Underground, London Overground or Docklands Light Railway, or through their Oyster website .

In the unlikely event that you buy a ticket from one of our self-service machines, and then find a cheaper one for the identical journey, you could be entitled to a refund for the difference.

Please use the form below to make a claim.

Before completing the online form read the following advice:

This applies to all refund applications where a paper ticket has been printed, including season tickets.

• You will need to cut the paper ticket in half
• Scan or photograph the ticket (cut in half) and uploaded as an image. We must be able to see the complete ticket in the upload
• If you are requesting a refund on your season ticket, please confirm the date you last used your ticket in the ‘additional comments’
• You will not need to upload any tickets not yet collected

Please include the ticket reference number in the additional comments section on the online refund form and we will be able to cancel your booking.

Please include your unique smartcard number as shown on the bottom of the card in the additional comments section.

Please include the AO ticket reference number below the barcode in the additional comments section on the online refund form.

Upload a screenshot or clear photograph of the eTicket and we will be able to cancel your booking.

You will receive an email with a unique reference number once your claim has been submitted.

Refund form

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War in ukraine, free and up-to-date :), transportation to and from moscow sheremetyevo airport, what is the distance from moscow sheremetyevo airport to the centre of moscow.

The distance to the centre of Moscow (Saint Basil’s Cathedral / Red Square) is 34 kilometres from South Terminal Complex and 42 kilometres from North Terminal Complex. Thus, terminals A and B are further away from the city. Travel time between the airport and the city centre is 1 hour and 5 minutes. Unfortunately, it can be busy on the roads and you should take into account a car journey that takes longer.

From SVO Airport to Moscow City centre by Taxi

City centre

Public transport

Train aeroexpress to moscow – buy tickets.

The fastest travel option between Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport and the centre of Moscow is the train Aeroexpress. You can get stuck in a traffic jam if you travel by car, taxi or bus, that won’t happen if you take the train. The Aeroexpress commutes between Belorussky Station in the city and the railway station at the airport, located on the south side of the airport at Terminal E. An automated people mover (APM) runs between this station and terminals A and B. The Aeroexpress departs every 30 minutes, travel time is 35 minutes.

From metro station Belorusskaya at Belorussky Station, you can travel by metro to the city centre and other parts of Moscow. The journey time from metro station Belorusskaya to metro station Teatralnaya close to Red Square is only 5 minutes.

Aeroexpress tickets The prices are listed below, an Aeroexpress ticket including a ride with the metro, tram or (trolley) bus costs 560 RUB, the price for a subway ticket is 55 RUB. You can buy tickets for the Aeroexpress at the stations, but it is cheaper to do this online. Please consult website and timetable Aeroexpress for more information.

SAVING TIPS: Tickets can be bought at the airport, but online it is easier and cheaper (450 RUB one way, 900 RUB return). A group ticket can be used by four people and costs 1,100 RUB for a single journey and 1,800 RUB for a return (valid for 30 days). The price is the same online and from the ticket machine. Aeroexpress trains run without stopping, besides you can use free WiFi aboard since early 2015.

Top 5 sights in Moscow

1. Red Square – free! 2. Moscow Kremlin 3. Saint Basil’s Cathedral 4. Moscow Metro Tour of 1.5 hours 5. Communist Walking Tour of 2 hours

Bus and metro to Moscow

It is more economical to travel by bus and metro to the centre of Moscow. Needless to say, taking a direct train is easier and faster. With bus 817 and bus 948 you can get in 35 minutes to metro station Planernaya (northernmost station metro line 7). With bus 851 and bus 949 it takes 25 minutes to metro station Rechnoy Vokzal (northernmost station metro line 2). The price of a bus ticket is 57 RUB or 80 RUB.

From both stations you can take the metro to the centre of Moscow, station Kuznetskiy Most for metro line 7 (travel time: 31 minutes) and station Teatralnaya for metro line 2 (travel time: 23 minutes). Metro station Kuznetskiy Most is a short distance from the world-famous Bolshoi Theatre. The total journey time is at least one hour. If the bus ends up in a traffic jam, the journey can take a lot longer.

Tickets for the subway priced 55 RUB are available from the ticket vending machines. You can also buy a day ticket (yediniy) for public transport in Moscow for 200 RUB, it is valid for 24 hours. During the night you can travel by bus H1 between the airport and the city every half hour. Please consult buses to and from Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport and  website Moscow Metro for more information.

“The metro stations with the most central location in Moscow are Okhotny Ryad (M1), Teatralnaya (M2) and Revolution Square (M3), at a short distance from Red Square, Kremlin and GUM.”

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Train stations in Moscow

Moscow is not only the capital of Russiabut also a center for education, politics, culture, transport, and economy. It hasa lot of history and attracts many tourists per year. The most common transportis the train and in the city, you will find nine different train stations. Thenames of them come from routes they are serving.

Address: 3 Komsomolskaya Sq.

It is the oldest train station in Moscowand located near the metro station Komsomolskaya. The trains from here go to North-WesternRussia, including St.Petersburg, Novgorod, Petrozavodsk, Murmansk, Finland andEstonia. The railway station got constructed by the architect KonstantinThron in the design of the Moskovsky train station in Saint Petersburg. It hadbeen built from 1844 to 1851. It has already had several names and wasrenovated in 1950 and 1972. It is notable that the amount of passengers isconstantly increasing.

Yaroslavlsky Train Station

Address: 5 Komsomolskaya Sq.

The train station is located near theLeningradsky train station at the matro station Komsomolskaya. TheTrans-Siberian route passes also this train station and trains from here leaveto Golden Ring, North-Eastern Russia, the Russian Far East, Mongolia and China.From all the nine train stations in Moscow, this one has the highest number ofpassengers.

Kazansky Train Station

Address: 2 Komsomolskaya Sq.

The train station is also located next tothe metro station Komsomolskaya. The trains leave to Kazan, Tatarstan, Urals,Central Asia and South of Russia. Times of construction of this modern trainstation was between 1913 and 1940 designed by the architect Alexey Shchusev.The train station in its design looks like the Söyembikä Tower in Kazan.

Belorussky Train Station

Address: 7 Tverskaya Zastava Sq.

The trains from here leave to Belorus,Kaliningrad (Russia), Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, the CzechRepublic. The architect Ivan Strukov constructed it and it was opened in1870 but renovated from 1910-1912. It is connected to the airport and alsotakes some local routes to the suburb of Moscow.

Kievsky Train Station

Address: 2 Kievskogo Vokzala Sq.

The train station is situated near themetro station Kievskaya and takes routes to the Ukraine and SoutheasternEurope. It was designed by  Ivan Rerberg and Vladimir Shukhov in1914-1918. It is the only train station in the city from which you can directlylook at the Moscow river.

Kursky Train Station

Address: 29 Zemlyanoi Val St.

The train station takes routes to Vladimir,Nizhny Novgorod, Oryol, Perm, Southern Russia, Caucasus, Eastern Ukraine,Crimea. Metro stations next to it are Kurskaya and Chkalovskaya. The firstconstruction has been made by N.P. Orlov in 1896 and it has been reconstructedby G.I. Voloshinov in 1972.

Paveletsky Train Station

Address: 1 Paveletskaya Sq.

The train station takes routes for longdistances to Almaty, Voronezh, Baku, Luhansk, Saratov, Donetsk, Tambov,Lipetsk, Volgograd, Yelets and Astrakhan. It has a connection to the Domodedovoairport. It is a very old train station first constructed by A. Krasovskiy in1900 and reconstructed by A.Gurkov, S.Kuznetsova and A.Vorontsov in 1987. Thenew construction is much bigger and has a high volume of traffic.

Rizhsky Train Station

Address: 79/3 Rizhskaya Sq.

It is situated next to the metro station Rizhskayaand takes routes to Baltic countries. It opened in 1901, designed by S. Brzhozovskywho was also involved in the construction of the Vitebsky station in SaintPetersburg. As well, the station has had already a lot of different names. Thetrain station received its current name in 1946. It is a very modern one and isalso mentioned in the Moscow Railway Museum.

Savyolovsky Train Station

Address: Savyolovskogo Vokzala Sq.

The train station takes routes to northern Moscow but also to long-distance destinations: Kostroma, Cherepovets, Vologda (Russia). There is also a connection to the airport Sheremetyevo. The nearest metro station is Savyolovskaya. The times of construction were between 1897 and 1902 and is named after a village that is located along the route. On occasion to its 90th anniversary, it had been reconstructed.

• Trains between Moscow and Saint Petersburg read

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Moscow’s new suburban rail lines dramatically improve commutes!

The first two of the five lines of the MCD were launched November 21: the MCD1 line goes to Odintsovo (west) and Lobnya (north), while MCD2 to Podolsk (south) and Nakhabino (west). These towns are some 20-30 km from Moscow, and are inhabited by hundreds of thousands of people traveling to Moscow on business each day.

Vladimir Putin at the opening of the MCD.

Both lines cross over with central Moscow stations, as well as those on the outskirts. You can change over to the Moscow Central Circle or the metro (there is a total of 27 stations where you can make the switch). These changes allow for getting to and from the city center much faster and more conveniently than commuter trains.

Why does Moscow need the MCD?

The MCD will add to the function of the commuter trains, easing part of the daily burden experienced by those lines, as well as reduce car traffic in and out of town. The MCD runs every 5-10 minutes with only a four-hour break at night. The reason the new trains are referred to as Diameters is that they travel not just to Moscow’s main intercity stations, but also from one city on the outskirts of Moscow all the way to another one situated at the other end. 

The service runs similar to an ordinary Metro, from 5:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. Directions are available in English, so you won’t get lost.

One important change you must remember is the Aeroexpress trains to Sheremetyevo airport now run differently than before: now one ride from the Belorussky railway to Sheremetyevo will take 50 minutes - instead of the usual 35. Also, on the way from the airport, Belorussky railway will no longer be the final stop - Odintsovo will. But there will also be a few new stations that cross over with the regular metro - in the Moscow City district, on Begovaya, Fili and Kuntsevskaya. All of these interlink with the regular metro.

New internet-capable trains

The MCD trains - in accordance with the Russian custom with giving names of birds to every new train route - will carry the name Ivolga (Russian word for “Eurasian golden oriole”). The carriages are outfitted with bike racks, luggage and stroller compartments, power sockets and USB chargers with every seat, as well as free Wi-Fi - as is the case with all of Moscow’s urban transport. 

39 trains are currently operational.

Free transfers!

Prior to the MCD appearing, passengers wanting to switch between city and suburban trains had to buy separate tickets. The MCD greatly simplifies the process: now you simply need to use your Troika card at the MCD ticket stalls. There are two tariffs - city (38 rubles, or $0.6) and regional (45 rubles, $0.8; meaning cities just on the outskirts of Moscow - not the entire region). If you need to go further afield into the Moscow region, beyond the MCD, then your Troika card will be charged an additional $0.35 (23 rubles) to transfer to the ‘elektrichka’ (electrical commuter trains). 

Switching between MCD and metro trains is free for a 90-minute window, irrespective of the tariff. However, if you don’t check out of the station at the exit stalls, your Troika card will be blocked, and require around $2.30 (150 rubles) to unlock. 

You can also pay via Apple Pay, Google Pay, Mastercard PayPass and Visa PayPass. 

Will there be other ‘diameters’?

Several more MCD are slated to launch before 2025 - the MCD3 (from Ramenskoye to Zelenograd), MCD4 (Zheleznodorozhny to Aprelevka) and MCD5 (from Domodedovo to Pushkino). Right now, the passenger load of the first two Diameters is estimated at 900,000 per day. All five Diameters will serve more than 330 million Moscow passengers every year. 

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