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

frames1_uk

I am travelling from Sleaford to London, out 6th, return 12th. Appears no trains running through Sleaford, although connection to London at Peterborough will, no good to me, so will have to drive instead... hence I have no use for the return portion either (2 singles purchased)... wonder what the refund policy is regards to this?

glider3560

frames1_uk wrote: »

I am travelling from Sleaford to London, out 6th, return 12th. Appears no trains running through Sleaford, although connection to London at Peterborough will, no good to me, so will have to drive instead... hence I have no use for the return portion either (2 singles purchased)... wonder what the refund policy is regards to this?

You haven't bought a return portion, you've bought another single. Unfortunately under normal circumstances, you won't get a refund on the second single ("return") if your first is cancelled, as it is a completely separate journey. This is a risk of buying two single tickets. If you need the protection, you should buy a return.

In all my posts, I've been referring to "normal circumstances". Train companies may put special procedures in place to ensure people are catered for.

Rolandtheroadie

robt wrote: »

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

I'm going to leave this thread now to those looking for advice now. If you'd like to post the parts of the original post that got you so upset (the crap?) in the area you suggested earlier, it'll help stop you looking silly as well (we wouldnt want that now, would we).

And I dont really believe you got the whole concept of the reply. I think you feel rather silly now.

Stay strong brother.

Chunkypar

Well I've now found out that East coast are effectively running a full service.

That's quite a miraculous turnaround from not being able to tell us what is going to happen until 6 days before the strike. Disgusting behaviour.

Given that the train I am booked on is now scheduled to run I am left with £85 train tickets and £120 plane tickets that was forced to buy to ensure I could travel to London on the 6th.

How a train company has the bare faced cheek to be unable to guarantee giving you transport and not offer a refund is beyond belief.

I've sent an email to their "Customer Relations" department giving them my politely low opinion of them and will await the response.
:mad::mad::mad:

frames1_uk

it seems to be mostly 'local routes' that are pretty much shutting down, seems the mainline routes are running pretty much near normal. I would imagine a lot of people have to use the 'local routes' to catch the mainline (like me).
I actually feel a bit sorry for East Coast, as they are running their services pretty much, but my connecting East Midlands trains, are not, but since East Coast sold me the ticket, they will have to refund if my local train is cancelled (as it states it will be, at the moment)

glider3560

frames1_uk wrote: »

it seems to be mostly 'local routes' that are pretty much shutting down, seems the mainline routes are running pretty much near normal. I would imagine a lot of people have to use the 'local routes' to catch the mainline (like me).
I actually feel a bit sorry for East Coast, as they are running their services pretty much, but my connecting East Midlands trains, are not, but since East Coast sold me the ticket, they will have to refund if my local train is cancelled (as it states it will be, at the moment)

Did you buy one whole ticket for your entire journey, or did you buy a separate one for the connection?

frames1_uk

glider3560 wrote: »

Did you buy one whole ticket for your entire journey, or did you buy a separate one for the connection?

it's one ticket, it says 'EC and connections'

frames1_uk

what I am wondering now is.... if this Court action manages to 'postpone' the proposed strike... how much notice do the RMT have to give to declare another date for strike?

Bogof_Babe

Bit more info about refunds here...

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/2010/Industrial_Action_Q&A.html

epm-84

A lot of people are asking similar questions so I thought I post this reply rather than quoting an individual.

If you buy a rail ticket, at any point not just for a strike period, and the train you planned to catch is cancelled then you can get a full refund off who you purchased the ticket from. If you are told the train you plan to catch is cancelled before you buy the ticket then you cannot get a full refund.

If you change your plans and no longer require a ticket you can get a refund minus an admin fee of £8. This applies if you bought two advance singles to make a return journey and one of them is for a non-strike day.

However, advance singles issued for services where there is no service on strike days will be accepted on any day between 3rd and 10th April, except if they are for East Coast services, in which case they may not be used on the 10th April. However, you must use it at the same time of day as the time on your ticket. This means if you have a Liverpool-Sheffield Advance for a 10am service on the Wednesday when there is no service then you may use it at 10am on the Bank Holiday Monday when there is a service. However, if there is a reduced service on the strike days e.g. for Manchester to London then you must use it on the train specified or the nearest running service.

If you have a London travelcard for a strike day then you can exchange it for one for a non-strike day at a ticket office.

Note: If you are travelling to a station where automatic ticket barriers are in operation, such as but in no way limited to: Leeds, Manchester Oxford Rd, Liverpool Central, Chester and Blackpool North and your ticket is not dated for the day you are travelling on then you should go to the manual barrier.