From November if your train from Hastings or Rye is delayed by 15 minutes then you’ll be in line for a compensation payment under a new ‘Delay repay 15’ scheme.

Any passenger delayed by 15 minutes or more will be able to ask for cash back. It comes after local MP Amber Rudd took the fight for the rights of residents to the Department for Transport.

Ms Rudd said this  morning: “People in Hastings and Rye should know I will always take their concerns to the very heart of government and demand a better deal for them.

“Delays on trains are unacceptable and can cause havoc for commuters. The very least they deserve is not to be out of pocket as well as out of time.

“This new move is a step towards ensuring there is a better service for people across Hastings and Rye.”

In addition to Delay Repay 15, the Department for Transport will see £250,000 made available for improved accessibility at stations on the Southeastern network, opening up opportunities for more people to travel by rail.