Claim for missed flight due to train

tikkaandfelix

On 18th August I was stuck on a broken down First Capital Connect train from London Bridge to Gatwick for 4 hours which resulted in me missing my flight and having to buy a new ticket for £152 for the following day.
I have a detailed letter from Gatwick train station's manager, my original train ticket and new plane ticket receipt and hoped I would be able to claim the airfare off of FCC.
Unfortunately I do not have travel insurance - I simply can't afford it.
However I have spoken to FCC and they say they don't cover any incidental costs.
I am really angry and annoyed, as if I had even been able to get off the broken train I might have got a taxi and caught my flight but instead we were trapped on the train in very crowded and distressing conditions.
Do you think there is any legal action I can take against FCC, and if so do you have any suggestions about how to go about it?
Thanks so much for any help or suggestions

tinkerbell28

These things happen, they won't cover consequential losses as it can't be helped.

I'm sorry, but that is what travel insurance is for. For a short trip you can get it for less than a tenner, less than the next flight cost.

They can't just let people off trains, that is a law suit waiting to happen and would probably put their insurance at risk.

aileth

This is exactly why I always stay a night at the airport before the flight!

agrinnall

I'm pretty sure the travel insurance would have cost you a great deal less than the £152 you have now had to pay.

jwruk

No travel insurance but you could cover the cost of a replacement flight?

visidigi

All those questioning the travel insurance...you're avoiding the fact that the excess would be half the fare!

FCC have liability here imo - especially given the destination was an airport!

jwruk

FCC have no liability.

The train journey and the flight were booked independent of each other and it's the responsibility of whoever is traveling to ensure they allow enough time to make the connection.

Whilst a delay in the train journey may have been unforeseeable, FCC have no liability in the OP missing onward travel.

dacouch

visidigi wrote: »

All those questioning the travel insurance...you're avoiding the fact that the excess would be half the fare!

FCC have liability here imo - especially given the destination was an airport!

Travel Insurance cancellation cover excess would normally be circa £50 unless you buy on price alone

liam8282

What about travel insurance you sometimes get with bank accounts etc?

I don't have it, so not sure how it works and if you have to tell them before hand of your travel plans.

Pollycat

jwruk wrote: »

FCC have no liability.

The train journey and the flight were booked independent of each other and it's the responsibility of whoever is traveling to ensure they allow enough time to make the connection.

Whilst a delay in the train journey may have been unforeseeable, FCC have no liability in the OP missing onward travel.

I agree with this.

The OP may be able to claim for the delay in his train journey from FCC:
http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/customer-care/delay-repay/

To the OP:
I would forget all thoughts of taking legal action against FCC.

tinkerbell28

FCC have no liability. Imagine if they did? We wouldn't have a train service at all.

If people claimed for missed flights, onward trains, taxis, missed working hours, missed corporate deals, missed appointments, etc, etc, etc.

Fact is, this is what travel insurance is for, it can be bought cheap, with low excess. If op had insurance, they'd be better off now, than having to fork out for the flight.