RAIL operators are not doing enough to let delayed passengers know their rights on compensation, according to a consumer survey.

Consumer rights champion, Which?, surveyed 7,300 train passengers for its fourth annual customer satisfaction survey.

Almost three in 10 rail passengers said they had suffered a delay when they last travelled, while three quarters of those held up for more than an hour said they were not told that this meant they could qualify for a full refund.

All rail operators run refund schemes.

Under the Delay Repay scheme - operated by both Virgin Trains and East Coast - passengers are automatically entitled to a full refund if their train or journey is delayed by an hour or more, regardless of the cause, and a 50 per cent refund on delays of 30 to 59 minutes.

ScotRail offer National Rail vouchers if the delay is the fault of either ScotRail or the rail industry, for example a signalling failure.

Which? executive director Richard Lloyd, said: "Long delays and consistently low levels of customer service are driving commuters to distraction.

"Passengers often have little or no choice as to the rail companies they travel with, so as ticket prices continue to rocket, more must be done to improve customers' satisfaction and to inform people of their right to a refund as a result of delays."

Which? found that 23 per cent of Virgin and East Coast passengers surveyed had experienced some type of delay on their most recent journey.

Among ScotRail passengers, 19 per cent had been delayed on their last journey.

Which? researchers also participants about overall customer satisfaction.

Of the three main train companies operating in Scotland, East Coast scored the highest for passengers satisfaction with 62 per cent of those surveyed saying they were pleased with the service and would recommend it to a friend.

Virgin Trains, which is due to take over the East Coast franchise in a partnership with Stagecoach from March 1, scored 60 per cent for overall customer satisfaction.

Among ScotRail passengers, 55 per cent would recommend using the service to a friend.

Lavour's Shadow rail minister Lilian Greenwood said: "The Which? report underlines the need for rail industry reform - reforms David Cameron's Government have been unwilling to consider at a time when fares are up by more than 20% since 2010.

"Passenger satisfaction is still shockingly poor. Labour will institute a new body for running the railway which will have a strong voice for passengers at its heart."