Trains to South Wales on Friday 29 October

mrstrw

It's an off chance but was anyone trying to get to South Wales in the evening of Friday 29 October. We tried but failed. Our train was about half an hour late leaving Paddington. After a wait in Bristol Parkway we were told that there were signal problems around the Severn Tunnel. After almost 3 hours wait they had 2 coaches but these filled very quickly and at midnight with a huge queue and no one having any idea when the next coach would arrive or if the signals would be fixed we gave up and went to a hotel. We were tired and had a 45 journey the other side of Swansea, having a lift and we felt bad about asking our lift to stay up that late. Even if a coach had arrived I am not sure we would have arrived into swansea before 2am. We were also cream crackered. Does anyone know what happened to the passengers in the end?

We are told that some swine had stolen cables so I am not sure if this is classed as an event beyond the railway companies control so they will try and wrangle out of paying compensation. I have done a quick google search and it would appear that cable theft is quite common in South Wales so they should be doing more to protect their property.

dzug1

They don't normally pay compensation as such - but a refund of your ticket cost (in vouchers) is virtually automatic for long delays. You just have to ask.

How do I claim compensation for a delay or cancellation?If you wish to make a claim for compensation following a delay on board a First Great Western service, you will need to send your original journey tickets to the following address: Customer Services Team First Great Western FREEPOST SWB40576 Plymouth PL4 6ZZYour claim will then be investigated.

sassy_one

Trains are often delay between Newport (South Wales) And Swansea, sometimes even as far as Carmarthen, it normally is at peak times and late evenings (10pm +)

I have always been transferred to a Taxi paid for by Arriva Trains Wales if a train went earlier or didn't arrive within an hour of it's due time, they seem to be very good out there.

I would contact them and explain your issues as I'd be surprised if you weren't offered something!

sassy_one

dzug1 wrote: »

They don't normally pay compensation as such - but a refund of your ticket cost (in vouchers) is virtually automatic for long delays. You just have to ask.

How do I claim compensation for a delay or cancellation?If you wish to make a claim for compensation following a delay on board a First Great Western service, you will need to send your original journey tickets to the following address: Customer Services Team First Great Western FREEPOST SWB40576 Plymouth PL4 6ZZYour claim will then be investigated.

The train would have been operated by Arriva Trains Wales, not First Great Western - it would be quicker for the OP to contact them directly failing which FGW will pass there delay complaint on to Arriva delaying it by a week or so.

wealdroam

Sorry, don't know anything about your specific problem.

But have you seen the train operator's Compensation for Delays webpage?

This clearly says they do not pay out in the event of (amongst other things) vandalism.

This should not stop you claiming though. There is a link to their claim form on that webpage.

sassy_one

wealdroam wrote: »

Sorry, don't know anything about your specific problem.

But have you seen the train operator's Compensation for Delays webpage?

This clearly says they do not pay out in the event of (amongst other things) vandalism .

This should not stop you claiming though. There is a link to their claim form on that webpage.

Incorrect.

The train would have not been operated by First Great western, and would have been by Arriva Trains Wales, therefore the delay lays with them and not the station operator.

Therefore the link is incorrect and the correct one is:

https://www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk

dzug1

sassy-one wrote: »

The train would have been operated by Arriva Trains Wales, not First Great Western - it would be quicker for the OP to contact them directly failing which FGW will pass there delay complaint on to Arriva delaying it by a week or so.

????? I'm not aware of Arriva operating from Paddington (where OP's journey originated) to South Wales

sassy_one

dzug1 wrote: »

????? I'm not aware of Arriva operating from Paddington (where OP's journey originated) to South Wales

We are not talking about the station owner nor the train operator but where the delay was caused and the end destination.

The OP was traveling to Wales and as the delay was there fault, it would be those people to make such a delayed claim too

geordieracer

sassy-one wrote: »

Incorrect.

The train would have not been operated by First Great western, and would have been by Arriva Trains Wales, therefore the delay lays with them and not the station operator.

Therefore the link is incorrect and the correct one is:

https://www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk

And which train would that be leaving Paddington?

sassy_one

geordieracer wrote: »

And which train would that be leaving Paddington?

As alraedy stated and explained.

The train operator is not at fault, it is where the delay has happened, and in the OP cases it is Arriva Trains Wales as Severn Tunnel is operated by Arriva Trains Wales, not First Great Western.

When I have had delays in the past from First Great Western I have contacted them and been advised that the delay was not due to them but to another train operator, therefore I must contact them.

If the OP contacts Arriva Trains Wales they will also be more in the know as to why the delay had happened and be more likely to receive a refund or vouchers from them

dzug1

sassy-one wrote: »

We are not talking about the station owner nor the train operator but where the delay was caused and the end destination.

The OP was traveling to Wales and as the delay was there fault, it would be those people to make such a delayed claim too

I respectfully disagree. On that logic 'those people' would be Network Rail. It's neither FGW nor Arriva's 'fault'.