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The length of time before rail passengers can claim compensation for late services in Wales is being cut in half.

Under the next Wales & Borders rail franchise, which is being devolved to the Welsh Government from October this year, if a service is more than 15 minutes late passengers will be entitled to compensation.

Under the current franchise, operated by Arriva Trains Wales, passengers are usually only entitled to compensation if services are delayed by more than 30 minutes.

The new technology platform could see passengers reimbursed almost immediately through an electronic transfer to their bank accounts.

And it comes as the Welsh Government's transport body, Transport for Wales, has confirmed that new ticketing technology will be introduced that will allow passengers to book in advance on mobile phones, as well as being able to make contactless payments.

And while it could require bus regulation being devolved to Wales to ensure having a single ticketing platform between buses and trains - like with Transport for London - Transport for Wales is looking to bring as many bus companies as possible under a new unified public transport ticketing system.

Two of the biggest players, in Cardiff and Newport bus companies, are publicly-owned. So in theory, bringing them under the planned integrated transport ticketing offer, should be easier.

The new franchise will ensure a significant increase in carriage capacity across the core Valley Lines, where the current 11 million passenger number is forecast to rise by 159% over the term of the next 15 year franchise, for which there is a break clause after seven.

And as part of a phased process, the rest of the franchise network is also likely to see an increase in frequency of service and rolling stock capacity - with larger and new disabled access legislation compliant diesel powered trains to start.

The winner of the franchise, which will include some cross border services into England, will be known in May.

And the winning bidder, either in Hong Kong-based MTR or French-owned Keolis - which is bidding with Amey - will also build and design the next phase of the Welsh Government's Metro project with electrification of the four core Valley Lines into Cardiff.

Transport for Wales said in a statement: "We will implement an efficient and high quality ticket retailing service providing mobile and contactless alternatives to paper, magnetic strip tickets.

"Customers will be able to access tickets easily and securely, including prior to travel wherever possible, accessing a range of advance purchase discount options.

"The ticketing platform will be extendable to bus and other public transport modes and offer passengers a simpler and more flexible ticketing experience. We will be engaging with bus operators shortly to talk through how they participate and benefit from integrated ticketing.

"As part of the reform of ticketing, we’ll provide compensation to all passengers whose journey is delayed by more than 15 minutes. There will also be significant improvements to the system passengers use for claiming compensation.”

The new compensation regime only covers the franchise area, so doesn't include trains on the south Wales to London Great Western Mainline.

It has been left to the two bidders to decide the mode of transport they will introduce on the core Valley Lines. But whoever wins it is expected that trams or tram-trains will be introduced on most, if not all, of the network.

However, if battery powered rolling stock is commissioned, it could see parts of the network not being electrified.

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During the £734m electrification work, sections of track will be closed between stations.

However, Transport for Wales has confirmed it will run frequent bus services between points on the network affected.

And the number of buses will match the frequency of rolling stock that will run on the network post electrification work. This will see 12 services an hour to Pontypridd and four from the periphery of the network like Merthyr, of four an hour.

The entire network will be electrified by 2023, but some of the lines could be electrified by 2021.

The winning bidder, as well as running far more services than on the current Arriva Train Wales franchise, will be expected to invest £50m in making station improvements.

Over the last 15 years ATW, in a franchise negotiated with the UK Government, only had to commit to a £400,000 investment.

The winning bidder will also have operate under a much tighter franchise profit margin of around 3%.

The new franchise is also expected to see an increase from one to two services an hour to Ebbw Vale, where longer-term the aim is to still deliver four an hour.

However, the line to Ebbw Vale will remain a non devolved section of track under the control of Network Rail, although the Welsh Government continues to press for the entire rail network in Wales to be devolved.