GREAT Western Railway was given more than £80m compensation to pay out to delayed passengers over four years but would not reveal how much had actually been claimed.

It came after reports that only £26m of a total £107m received by all the country's rail operators were passed on to commuters.

The Oxford Mail can reveal that between 2011 and 2015 Great Western Railway pocketed £83m from Network Rail which is obliged to compensate operators when delays are caused by track issues such as signalling failures.

When asked the rail operator said the amount claimed by passengers was not available to the public.

Passengers can claim compensation on most services that are more than half hour delayed but many do not, leaving rail operators being paid for their trains being late.

Yesterday the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) said 80 per cent of passengers do not claim compensation and there should be more help to allow them to do so.

According to their website, compensation claims can only been made to GWR via post after printing out a form

Spokesman James Davis said GWR make the process for claiming compensation as clear as possible.

He said: "When things do go wrong, it is entirely in our best interests for customers to know how to contact us, and what the arrangements for refunds or compensation are.

"These details are clearly outlined on posters and leaflets at all our stations, as well as on our website.

"Our colleagues at stations and on trains are also happy to give customers details of how they may claim compensation."

The £18m GWR scooped in 2014/15 was the second most out of all operators behind Southern.