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

bigpapalove

catflea wrote: »

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!

Thankyou catflea for your support. It is much appriciated.

glider3560

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

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?

It has to go back to East Coast's Web Sales department.

Tickets can be refunded at train stations, but this is at their discretion (usually only done for short notice cancellations). In most cases, the train station will simply post the ticket to the place you bought it from and then you still have to wait for a refund (which you can do yourself).

Some companies have been known not to ask for tickets back in the case of weather disruption, they simply process a refund. If you get in contact with EC, they will be able to tell you what the process is.

guidarufino

scotsman4th wrote: »

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.

I only work 10 miles away from my home and chose a job in that city precisely because it's easy to get to by train. I will get to work no matter what. I have to, I'm the boss. But this strike will undoubtedly mean that it will take me a lot longer and I'll be travelling on trains that will be totally rammed. It's a busy commuter line at the best of times, I dread to think what it will be like next week. I pay in excess of £80 a month for the privilege of travelling on that line but apparently as a monthly season ticket holder I wont' be getting any kind of refund as long as they get me there eventually...

So you generously didn't strike over the Easter weekend. Well that's great for families etc who are travelling then? What about the countless millions who will be affected by your striking at rush hour? At least you're honest enough to admit that maximum disruption is your goal.

Yes, my special reason for not getting stuck in traffic for hours every day is that I chose a job (not a very interesting office one since you asked) which I could get to by train. I made that choice which will be taken away from me by this strike.

My boyf and his workmates weren't happy about the changes but they did agree when they started working there that Sunday working might be implemented. I'm not saying that what happened is great but that's the reality of the modern workplace. Particularly in a recession when unemployment is so high. Nothing ever stays the same and it always seems to be the case that when companies want to make changes (BA, Post Office etc) to save money and keep going , that the unions fight it tooth and nail because they're protecting their vested interests. Fair enough. And I'm protecting my vested interests as a commuter by not supporting the strike.

By the way, it'll be interesting to see what happens if the Tories get in in May re unions etc. This strike, along with the BA one and other factors, isn't doing Labour any favours in the polls... I'm surprised that the RMT seem to prefer a Tory government to a Labour one...

bigpapalove

A Tory government would be bad news for all unions, as the Tories look after their own kind, who certainly don't need to get involved with things like unions!

robt_2

scotsman4th wrote: »

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.

Quite possibly the most ridiculous comments I have seen on MSE, in the context that it is in (talking about a rial strike).

Has it occurred to you that if we all did that the vast majority of transport workers would be out of a job?

Bogof_Babe

glider3560 wrote: »

It has to go back to East Coast's Web Sales department.

Tickets can be refunded at train stations, but this is at their discretion (usually only done for short notice cancellations). In most cases, the train station will simply post the ticket to the place you bought it from and then you still have to wait for a refund (which you can do yourself).

Some companies have been known not to ask for tickets back in the case of weather disruption, they simply process a refund. If you get in contact with EC, they will be able to tell you what the process is.

Thanks. I have just emailed East Coast via their "contact us" facility and will wait to see what they say.

Rolandtheroadie

robt wrote: »

Quite possibly the most ridiculous comments I have seen on MSE, in the context that it is in (talking about a rial strike).

Has it occurred to you that if we all did that the vast majority of transport workers would be out of a job?

Just a mirror of the comments made by who I was replying to. Please try to keep up.

robt_2

scotsman4th wrote: »

Just a mirror of the comments made by who I was replying to. Please try to keep up.

I know what it was - it doesn't make it any less ridiculous and just makes you look daft.

ann.chil

I've got tickets for 6th and 10th from London to Crewe and back. Two problems, if I can't get to London, from Basildon, will that count for a refund, even if Virgin trains are running?

Can't change to a different day or week, as too many things in the diary. And I deliberately chose to travel after the Easter bank holiday as I thought it might be quieter, and to leave more space for those who can't travel during "working" days!

Don't know what to do, want a decision now on what's happening!

glider3560

ann.chil wrote: »

I've got tickets for 6th and 10th from London to Crewe and back. Two problems, if I can't get to London, from Basildon, will that count for a refund, even if Virgin trains are running?

Under normal circumstances, you wouldn't be eligible for a refund if the Virgin service isn't cancelled but your connecting service is. This is a risk that you take when choosing to travel on more than one ticket.

However, depending on your ticket type, you may be able to get a refund anyway subject to an administration charge.