MSE News: Rail strike: your rights if your train is cancelled

epm-84

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

So if the above link details are now official, can I get a refund on my Arriva Trains ticket to Chester for 6th, a service which is not running, nor any other services to Chester until 10th April if I'm understanding correctly?

You should be able to get a refund now but be aware that talks are ongoing and the strike may be called off before Tuesday. However, saying that you might want to get a refund on your train ticket and buy a coach ticket now rather than risk getting stuck if the strike goes ahead.

guidarufino

scotsman4th wrote: »

He's a member of the RMT. Thats totally different from being FROM the RMT.

Ok, what's your point?

Bogof_Babe

epm-84 wrote: »

You should be able to get a refund now but be aware that talks are ongoing and the strike may be called off before Tuesday. However, saying that you might want to get a refund on your train ticket and buy a coach ticket now rather than risk getting stuck if the strike goes ahead.

I've already got one to travel on Monday instead, but I don't need to tell them that! Won't be able to go to local station and seek refund on Tues, as I'll be at my destination by then (hopefully!).

I bought it through the East Coast website, and collected it at my local station. I can't see anything on the ticket to identify it as having been bought online, and anyway why should it matter how it was originally bought? They obviously all link up together or the seat reservation thing wouldn't work.

glider3560

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

I've already got one to travel on Monday instead, but I don't need to tell them that! Won't be able to go to local station and seek refund on Tues, as I'll be at my destination by then (hopefully!).

I bought it through the East Coast website, and collected it at my local station. I can't see anything on the ticket to identify it as having been bought online, and anyway why should it matter how it was originally bought? They obviously all link up together or the seat reservation thing wouldn't work.

The ticket has to be returned to where it was purchased. The various codes on the ticket identify where the ticket was issued (i.e. collected) and a booking number, which is then tied into the booking system to find out where it was bought from.

Rolandtheroadie

guidarufino wrote: »

Ok, what's your point?

Chinese whisper scenario. It goes from a member of a union/company/organisation who has made a comment on a website being mistaken for a spokesperson for that union/company/organisation.
But while I'm here, if your unable to get to your work, perhaps you should think about getting another job.
Other people have to get to their work no matter what obstacles are thrown in their way but just get on with it.
If you want to spend more time with your family, perhaps you should give up working so far away. You knew about the travelling before you accepted the job.

bigpapalove

I'd like to respond to a few of the comments made by guidarufino.

"It is totally inexcusible to drag the travelling public into your argument with your employers."

Talks between the unions and NR have been ongoing for a long long time over these issues, and while they were things were OK. However, NR have tried to start implementing these changes without agreement, therefore further action needed to be taken.


"And the fact that you've timed your strikes to cause maximum disruption to commuters like myself frankly makes my blood boil."

We have decided not to strike over the actual Easter weekend, when many families would be having days away, visiting relatives etc.


"You could just as easily call a strike for times when the network is less busy but that wouldn't cause as much disruption or grab as many headlines would it?!"

The idea of a strike is to get people to sit up and take notice, so I'm afraid that yes, we do have to cause disruption.


"I will be cursing you and all your union cronies to high heavens! And I'll be cursing you again later in the day when I can't get home in the evening."

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, may I ask what job you do?


"And no driving in isn't an option unless you want to give me £10 a day to park and a flying machine for my car that will allow me to fly over all the traffic on the way."

I take it you have a reason why you should get special treatment, and not have to pay for parking and get stuck in traffic like everyone else does.


"His company recently changed his T&Cs so that he'll have to work Sundays soon. Which will be horrible for us. But that's what he signed up for with the company."

Does your boyfriend and his workmates agree with the changes? And as you said yourself the company has just changed the T+Cs, so no, thats not what he signed up for.


"Are you striking for the safety of the travelling public or because you don't want a change to your T&Cs?"

Both. If the T+Cs get changed, and the 1500 staff go, the remaining staff will be working longer shifts for less pay. Fewer men means less work can be carried out, therefore at some point something has to give - the quality of the track and therefore safety.


"If you don't like your job, then quit and go get another one."

Most of us are very happy with our jobs, and have been for years. Its unneeded changes that we are unhappy about.


"stop taking your squabbles with your bosses out on us, you'll never get any support that way!"

You'll find that today the unions were all for further talks with NR at ACAS, but instead NR decided to spend a load of YOUR taxes on a High Court case instead.

bigpapalove

bigbullyweedave wrote: »

I really want to be supportive of the union, but if this timing is to embarrass the government, it's also ridiculously inconveniencing not just those of us who have to travel but all the extra people traveling long distances for Easter break. Not the way to make lots of friends...

The timing is because NR were planning on forcing the new T+Cs and job cuts on us starting this week, not to embarrass anyone.



robt said: There is some truth in the post above. There is also some bullcrap, so take it with a pinch of salt.

Would you care to tell me what you feel is bullcrap?

catflea

My Journey is being quite horrifically affected by the strike - it will cost me approx £13 more each day to get to work by car (although the time difference is fairly negligable)

I however offer my whole support to the RMT - the workers contracts dont worry per-se - OK, so the changes aren't nice but we have to suck these things up.

What however worries me quite horrendously is the cut in the number of maintainance workers and those that are still standing are going to be tired, overworked and prone to make mistakes. We all know that the railway network is somewhat decrepid and it needs constant looking after - thats what theses guys do!

The Strike being timed at the point where it causes most impact? What a suprise!? Thats the point of strikes - to make a tangible difference!

Bogof_Babe

glider3560 wrote: »

The ticket has to be returned to where it was purchased. The various codes on the ticket identify where the ticket was issued (i.e. collected) and a booking number, which is then tied into the booking system to find out where it was bought from.

Sorry to be obtuse but do you mean I would have to claim from East Coast, or ask for a refund at my local station where I collected the ticket from?

sweetmagee

I booked tickets in advance from South Eastern Railways for a journey from Ramsgate to Clacton during the strike week. Checked their website and there's no trains at all from Ramsgate - it's a replacement bus service which links up with a train at Rainham. That's about an hour's drive in a car so with all the station stops it's going to take at least another hour. I don't want to sit on a bus for two hours before I even get on a train so I rang South Eastern to request a refund and was told that I have to write to their head office enclosing my tickets so they can consider whether I might be allowed one. It seems totally ridiculous to me that I'm not able to get a refund for a journey I can't actually make - ie a train journey and not a 2 hour bus trip followed by train journeys which will almost certainly be disrupted anyway.