Rail passengers in Britain whose trains are cancelled will soon have the right to travel on other train operators' services to complete their journey without paying extra, ministers have announced. This new rule will take effect from Sunday, 20 September, aiming to eliminate the confusion that has long plagued the rail system. Currently, many pre-booked tickets are not valid on other companies' trains, leaving passengers in difficult situations during disruptions. In the past, even when passengers were allowed to travel with different operators during major disruptions, they often had to wait for an official agreement that another company's ticket would be accepted. In some cases, they were forced to buy a new, more expensive ticket and then apply for a refund for the original one. The Department for Transport said that passengers had "been paying the price for a system which prioritises shareholders when trains are cancelled." Starting from 20 September, customers with valid tickets will be able to travel on another operator’s train up to two hours before or after the original cancelled service, provided it’s on a reasonable alternative route. Rail minister Lord Hendy described the change as a "simple, commonsense change that puts passengers first," stating that no one should be left stranded due to a fragmented railway system during disruptions. He added that the government is working to make the railway "simpler, fairer and easier to use," as it moves toward the creation of Great British Railways, with public service at its core. Automatic cross-operator ticket acceptance has already been implemented on services returned to public ownership. Now, major intercity operators like CrossCountry, GWR, Avanti West Coast, and Chiltern Railways will be included. The remaining passenger train services are expected to come under public ownership next year, with the exception of a few open-access services that will remain separate. East Midlands Railway, which has been struggling with the introduction of malfunctioning Hitachi bi-mode trains, will not be included immediately due to ongoing cancellations and a shortage of seats. Alex Robertson, chief executive of the independent watchdog Transport Focus, welcomed the change, calling it something the organization has long advocated for. He emphasized the importance of ensuring passengers receive clear information about their options whenever disruptions occur.