Eligible railcards

Young persons Disabled persons Senior Family Military Network

The move is part of the industry's charm offensive after months of rail chaos because of the track maintenance programme following the Hatfield crash.

October's crash led to speed restrictions across the network and radical repairs.

Owners of expensive season tickets for intercity and commuter services have already been compensated with limited free travel.

But passenger groups had strongly warned rail companies that with disruption fresh in the mind and prices rising, it would be an uphill struggle to get passengers back on the railways.

Passengers' patience

The new offer will apply to holders of railcards for young people, pensioners, families, disabled people, military personnel and Network cards in the South East.

The offer will cost operators up to �10m but the Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc) says it is worth spending the money to get rail passengers back.

Sales of railcards were growing by 8% before the Hatfield crash and Atoc says it is giving something back to passengers to thank them for their patience during disruptions.

The Rail Passengers' Council welcomed the offer but said many standard fares will go up this month.

The council wants much more compensation for travellers disrupted by the chaos.