Nightmare train journey - rights?
marello
Posts: 37 Forumite
Hi,
I'm having major surgery in Birmingham next week and was due to have my preop today. I live in London, so got on the train at Euston. I'm trying to keep costs down so I bought advanced slow train tickets for £11 return on a London Midland service.
About an hour and a half into my journey, there was a lot of commotion on the platform. A member of staff got on and told us our train was turning around and going back to Euston as the track ahead was damaged.
It would have been possible to go backwards, change at Milton Keynes and head onwards to Birmingham. However this would have got me in after my appointment. I called the hospital and they couldn't fit me in later in the day.
I had to go all the way back home and rebook my preop for Monday, very early morning. This means I have to get up at the crack of dawn and pay >£70 to get there.
Do I have any rights to make the train company pay for this? I'm really frustrated. I'm too ill to work at the moment, stressed about my health and worried about money.
I'm having major surgery in Birmingham next week and was due to have my preop today. I live in London, so got on the train at Euston. I'm trying to keep costs down so I bought advanced slow train tickets for £11 return on a London Midland service.
About an hour and a half into my journey, there was a lot of commotion on the platform. A member of staff got on and told us our train was turning around and going back to Euston as the track ahead was damaged.
It would have been possible to go backwards, change at Milton Keynes and head onwards to Birmingham. However this would have got me in after my appointment. I called the hospital and they couldn't fit me in later in the day.
I had to go all the way back home and rebook my preop for Monday, very early morning. This means I have to get up at the crack of dawn and pay >£70 to get there.
Do I have any rights to make the train company pay for this? I'm really frustrated. I'm too ill to work at the moment, stressed about my health and worried about money.
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Comments
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You can claim for an abandoned journey.0
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Why are you travelling so far for surgery? Is it unavailable in London?0
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No the surgery is not.
@yorkie2 - can I only get back the cost of the original tickets? My rebooked journey is 7 times the cost of the original and of course I have to lose a day's pay as I can't work.0 -
I'm too ill to work at the moment, stressed about my health and worried about money.No the surgery is not.
@yorkie2 - can I only get back the cost of the original tickets? My rebooked journey is 7 times the cost of the original and of course I have to lose a day's pay as I can't work.
You are losing a days pay anyway, aren't you? Your mysterious surgery has not happened yet so you are not at work anyway, according to you.
Can you tell us exactly what surgery you need that is unavailable in the Capital City and, by definition, the most populous region of the country.0 -
usefulmale wrote: »
Can you tell us exactly what surgery you need that is unavailable in the Capital City and, by definition, the most populous region of the country.
Does it matter where the OP is having surgery? I can think of plenty of reasons one might not go to their local hospital but choose to go elsewhere. Perhaps he's paying privately for a particular excellent surgeon who is offering a new surgery not yet available on the NHS, who knows...
Also, plenty of good stuff happens outside London.
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Does it matter where the OP is having surgery? I can think of plenty of reasons one might not go to their local hospital but choose to go elsewhere. Perhaps he's paying privately for a particular excellent surgeon who is offering a new surgery not yet available on the NHS, who knows...
Also, plenty of good stuff happens outside London.
If the OP is paying for private operations, they should not be whining about having to pay £70 to get there. Also, if their ill-health is causing them stress, relying on public transport to get there is not going to help that.
Fact is, the original journey could not be completed, so the OP should be refunded the cost of the tickets. However, just because a subsequent journey is more expensive, that does not mean the train company should pay that fare for them too.0 -
usefulmale wrote: »If the OP is paying for private operations, they should not be whining about having to pay £70 to get there. Also, if their ill-health is causing them stress, relying on public transport to get there is not going to help that.
Fact is, the original journey could not be completed, so the OP should be refunded the cost of the tickets. However, just because a subsequent journey is more expensive, that does not mean the train company should pay that fare for them too.
What a ridiculous thing to say. OP may be seeing an NHS consultant with a specialist interest, or they may be going private because the treatment they require is not available on the NHS. That doesn't necessarily mean they're wealthy, they may have no other option. They may not be able to drive due to their health condition.
Fact is, it's none of your business. I can't work out why you posted other than to have a dig.0 -
usefulmale wrote: »If the OP is paying for private operations, they should not be whining about having to pay £70 to get there. Also, if their ill-health is causing them stress, relying on public transport to get there is not going to help that.
Fact is, the original journey could not be completed, so the OP should be refunded the cost of the tickets. However, just because a subsequent journey is more expensive, that does not mean the train company should pay that fare for them too.
I think you're probably right re. refund of ticket only but I wonder at your need to make assumptions and question his story.0 -
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That probably comes under the heading, "too much information".Can you tell us exactly what surgery you need0
This discussion has been closed.
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