Last train -- any guarantee I won't be stranded

esuhl

I remember several years ago, I got the last train home from London. As the train pulled in to a station where I had to change... I realised that it had been snowing and the staff had left. My connection never came, so I was stranded in the middle of nowhere on an exposed sub-zero platform at 1am, with a six hour wait for the next train.

I'm travelling to London again tomorrow, to spend a few hours with friends. The last train is an hour-and-a-half after the one before. If I catch that, I'll barely have arrived before I have to leave.

If I get the last train, is there any guarantee that I'll get to my destination? Are train/station staff required to arrange alternative transport if the last train is cancelled?

Or is being stranded overnight in the middle of nowhere just part of the experience of public transport?

DigForVictory

Part of the experience, as far as I know.

You might want to check out coaches, as vehicles arrive at all hours so logically they leave at all hours?

Or plan to crash on a friend's floor for a few hours & get up super quietly & super early to head home?

Mobeer

National Rail Conditions of Carriage gives some promises of help if you are stranded, but with so many ifs and exclusions that it is meaningless. All you can really rely on is being able to continue your journey when the next train comes, plus delay compensation.

esuhl

Ah, right. Caveat travellorium. (Or summat.)

Fair enough. I just thought, if I was stranded and had a "get out of jail free" card, it would be really handy to know in advance that I could play it!

agrinnall

Perhaps as a back up it would be worth getting the numbers of a couple of local taxi firms so that you can at least get from the middle of nowhere to somewhere that you're not risking hypothermia. Hopefully not a big issue in July but given the way the weather has been recently you never know...

martindow

It's a much better time of year for sleeping out on a platform than mid-winter!

yorkie2

If details are posted, I'll be happy to advise.

bap98189

esuhl wrote: »

If I get the last train, is there any guarantee that I'll get to my destination? Are train/station staff required to arrange alternative transport if the last train is cancelled?

Or is being stranded overnight in the middle of nowhere just part of the experience of public transport?

If the last train is cancelled, or if your incoming train is late and you miss the last train, and you already have a valid ticket, the TOC have a responsibility to get you home. It's happened a few times to me at Crewe and there has either been a replacement bus, or the staff have arranged taxis for anyone who was stranded.

A few years ago we had this happen to us at an unmanned station. I called National Rail Enquiries and they were able to get a taxi to the station to pick us up. I presume they still operate the same service, but have no desire to find out.

NBLondon

bap98189 wrote: »

If the last train is cancelled, or if your incoming train is late and you miss the last train, and you already have a valid ticket, the TOC have a responsibility to get you home. It's happened a few times to me at Crewe and there has either been a replacement bus, or the staff have arranged taxis for anyone who was stranded.

Only happened to me once - at Crewe - and exactly that; I got a taxi the rest of the way on Virgin's account.


National Express cancelled a coach on me once; thankfully I was able to get across town and jump on a last train instead costing me about £6 extra. I complained afterwards and they sent me a standard letter and a compensation cheque for £1. I sent that back with a semi-sarcastic letter and they changed it for a free return journey which I saved until I had an expensive trip to make.

Tuesday_Tenor

esuhl wrote: »

Or is being stranded overnight in the middle of nowhere just part of the experience of public transport?

No, that must have been the result of extreme weather conditions. Station staff sent home before roads got blocked (so a taxi probably wouldn't have risked getting through either), and expected train also stopped somewhere due to impassable rail or lack of staff. While I'm slightly surprised train staff didn't query you alighting I guess they thought you lived close and/or they didn't know connecting train was cancelled. Modern communications, though not foolproof, seem to be good at keeping train managers aware of situations, so I suspect you would fare better if the same thing happened now, though your only other option would have been to stay on the original train to get to a town with a hotel.

Normal procedure would be for the operator to get you home by bus or taxi, as others have said. Has happened to me a few times when Mid-Wales line flooded; bus or taxi provided from Shrewsbury.

I would only be concerned/ask questions/have back-up plan if there have been warnings about weather or industrial action.