Train Strike

Threebabes

Earlier in the year or it mightve been the end of last year, I posted about a family of 5 going to London. I booked it all and now we are being hit with the railway striking . Everyone was so helpful with advice on how to do it MSE.

We were travelling from East coast railway on thursday 8th from london to newcastle and now all trains are being stopped by 6.30. I rang East Coast yesterday and spoke to a stroppey unhelpful worman who told me I would have to cancel my tickets and rebook. Only thing is the train fares have shot up, I booked up 12 weeks in advance and the 5 of us were travelling home for £59. We go down on the Monday before the train strike starts so Im hoping if the train fares are too expensive we can also get a refund for going down too. Then my husband said he would drive but again its the petrol, congestion charge, parking in london to consider.

Sorry just wanting a moan, feel so fed up, my kids were so looking forward to it. I wouldve cancelled it all and done it another time but for the £200 of lion tickets we've purchased.

:-(

withabix

The strike might not go ahead yet.

It isn't East Coast's fault, because it isn't the train operating companies' staff going on strike - it is Network Rail's staff (ie those people who are responsible for the tracks only).

So, all East Coast can do is tell you to cancel and re-book at whatever price the tickets happen to be now.

The train companies are losing money because they can't run their trains (although arguably in the particular case of East Coast, they probably lose less money by not running trains, but that's a different matter altogether!).

East Coast's current information is on this page:

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/2010/dispute.html


East Coast will be running a revised timetable with trains running as follows:

• Between London Kings Cross and Leeds calling at all usual stations
• Between London Kings Cross and York/Newcastle/Edinburgh/Glasgow Central calling at all usual stations
• Services will start running at 07:00 and a near normal service will operate until 18:30
• There will be a reduced number of departures from London Kings Cross after 16:30

Passengers must complete their journey by 18:30 after which no East Coast services will be running.

Threebabes

No need for their staff to be rude to their customers !

withabix

Threebabes wrote: »

No need for their staff to be rude to their customers !

Sometimes difficult when you are receiving an endless barrage of calls from rude customers who are blaming your company for the actions of others....

I couldn't do 'customer service' - I would be sacked by lunchtime!

Threebabes

Nor me.

I was polite on the phone not ranting & raving, I know its not their fault.

Anyway Im over it, we will travel by car if necessary. :-)

madleypiper

could you maybe use your tickets you have now to get on a earlier train on the return date so your be home by 6.30. i know its not ideal but would possibly mean you wouldnt have to pay more. as the train companies isnt keeping there end of the bargain so to speak. yeah its not there fault but as a customer they should be wanting to help you. maybe ring again and see what they say. or chance it by just getting on an earlier train, but then you have a chance of getting fined for the train price on the day. i would ring and see if you get someone nicer. and ask can you use the tickets you have and use an earlier train because they do not have your train running??? make sure you get a name if they say yes incase your stopped on the train about it

Threebabes

Hi madleypiper

I rang them up earlier and spoke to a lovely kind helpful man (so not all their staff are rude whatnots). He told me much the same as you suggested. We could use our tickets on an earlier train but wouldnt have allocated seating, which I can live with. If necessary we will just stand all the way home. Good idea about getting a name in case of trouble.

The thought of having to pay treble what we originally paid for the tickets was a frightening thought. We've budgeted for this trip and Ive used tesco vouchers for our 3 meals on the evening and for madam tussards etc so paying the extra wouldve blown the budget.

A revised timetable has been published but its not yet definite.
:-)

KeithP

Train strike has been cancelled.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8598456.stm

Ms-Pacman

yes the signallers strike been cancelled ,
So if a there is a track fault or signal fault happens or one of the many other loads of things that go wrong and are fixed by network maintenance teams then the train may get delayed anyway if thats only if the track is safe to use.

KeithP

Ms-Pacman wrote: »

yes the signallers strike been cancelled , but the maintenance one hasn't.
So if a there is a track fault or signal fault happens or one of the many other loads of things that go wrong and are fixed by network maintenance teams then the train may get delayed anyway if thats only if the track is safe to use.

Please read again the link I posted earlier.

The other rail strikes are also off.

...after the ruling, RMT and TSSA announced the two other strikes would be suspended and fresh ballots would be held...

Please can you now correct the misleading info you have posted elsewhere.

Ms-Pacman

I've edited it, it was from the email I got at 5pm about the strikes. yes I work for NR maintenance and I do not agree that striking is the answer.