Train passengers with season tickets are to be given the equivalent of three weeks free travel as compensation for rail disruption, First Great Western has announced.

It will take the form of a cash or credit card refund of 15 days of travel to all customers who hold monthly or longer period season tickets valid between October 15 and November 11 .

The company is the third of the 25 rail companies to announce compensation for travellers for the delays and cancellations of the last few weeks caused by speed restrictions following the Hatfield crash and the effects of severe weather.

But its package is far less than the 22 days of free travel being offered by Virgin, which operates west coast mainline and cross country routes, and the refunds of up to 26 days from Great North Eastern Railway.

Philip White, chairman of the passengers' rights group the 125 Commuter Club, said: "It should be 25 days at least. Some people should receive considerably more bearing in mind the line between Swindon and Gloucester is not likely to re-open for the next few weeks."

More than 5,000 season ticket holders will be entitled to the refunds which will be given at the ticket office where they were originally purchased.

First Great Western is putting posters up at stations to inform season ticket holders of the compensation and will also be writing to as many as possible.

Customers who hold weekly or daily tickets are already entitled to refunds under the agreed compensation package in the Passengers' Charter.

For delays of one hour or more they will receive rail vouchers to the value of 100 per cent of the fare paid for the outward or return journey while for delays of two hours or more, they are entitled to rail vouchers to the value of 100 per cent of the fare paid for the entire journey.

"We are aware of the frustration and inconvenience our customers have experienced and hope that this compensation will go some way to making up for that," said First Great Western's managing director Mike Carroll.

"The package means three weeks free travel and illustrates our commitment to our customers.

"We have already given compensation to many of our non-season ticket customers and we are considering each one individually."

as we appreciate it has been an extremely difficult time for everyone.

"In many of those cases we have been able to provide additional compensation because of mitigating circumstances."