Govia Thameslink Railway is extending the additional industry compensation scheme for passengers in Huntingdonshire most affected by disruption caused by the introduction of the May timetable.

In addition to an existing offer of payments to season ticket holders, regular travellers such as part-time workers who do not have a season ticket, could now be eligible for compensation.

Qualifying passengers are those who have made a minimum of three days’ return travel in any week, Monday to Sunday, in the period May 20 to July 28, from affected stations, including Huntingdon and St Neots. Passengers using discounted books of carnets are included.

Compensation will be based on the cost of tickets purchased for a period of between one and four weeks. The firm says the value of compensation may vary according to ticket type.

Passengers are advised to retain any tickets, receipts or other proof of travel where possible to support an application. Oyster contactless customers should register their card on the Transport for London website and request a journey history to help with claims.

Govia chief executive, Patrick Verwer said: “We have listened to feedback. We believe it is right to extend the compensation scheme beyond season ticket holders to other regular travellers.

“We are sorry for the disruption in the weeks that followed the May timetable change. Overall, the train services on Thameslink and Great Northern have been stable, more reliable and more frequent since the introduction of the interim timetable on July 15. We have also introduced 200 more services than before the May timetable change.”

The first phase of the scheme, in which Govia will begin contacting qualifying season ticket holders, will begin this week.

Regular travellers are those who do not hold a season ticket but have a minimum of three days’ return travel in any week. Eligible tickets include:

Anytime and off-peak day travelcards, singles or returns, peak and off-peak carnets, KeyGo, Oyster pay as you go, contactless, and railcard discounted tickets.

Huntingdon MP, Jonathan Djanogly said: “I lobbied the secretary of state for transport on the issue of extending the enhanced compensation scheme to non-season ticket holders. At the time he agreed with me that the existing compensation schemes were not comprehensive enough to adequately compensate those rail users who, for a range of reasons, do not travel on a season ticket.

“Every rail user has been inconvenienced by these timetable changes and it is right that they should be properly compensated for the disruption they have faced.”