MSE News: Thameslink and Great Northern wipe cancelled trains from departure boards

Altarf

SnowMan wrote: »

Look at countries in Europe such as Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Italy, Spain and France where the rail networks are mainly publicly owned.

The overall quality of rail travel in these countries is far better than this country and fares are generally lower. I don't think those countries are particularly envious of the fragmented mess of a system we have here.

Southern, Thameslink, and Great Northern are effectively nationalised lines. The control and direction is taken directly by the Department for Transport and Govia only has an operating contract to employ the staff.

So no, publicly owned companies are not very good.

giraffe69

Britain's railway system is vastly more popular now than it was, say, 30 years ago. The trains are fuller. New lines and stations have opened. Are there problems? Yes, certainly. For example, the fare system is labyrinthine and getting it wrong is expensive. The recent timetable changes went very badly especially on Northern Rail however going back to a nationalised system for railways or indeed anything else is a retrograde step. One major problem from the late 40s to the 90s was a lack of investment and some of the aggravation caused by closures is as a result of the catching up that has been necessary.

garfield33

Hi MSE-ers, just wondering if anyone is in a similar position to me and knows anything more -

I'd booked tickets for Birmingham-Windermere (and back) via the trainline - the route is part Virgin, part Northern Rail. A couple of days ago (as part of all the Northern Rail fun), the Lakes part of the journey will now be on rail replacement bus - wouldn't normally be a problem for me but it's highly likely to make me late for my appointment so I'm going to have to drive instead. Am I entitled to a refund? I bought non refundable advance single tickets, but wondered if it was different if the train operators are the reason for me needing to cancel?

I called trainline earlier but they said I need to call back the day before I travel, because their systems say those trains are still running...! (indeed you can book the same route on their website and there's no mention of it being buses!)

Thanks everyone

yorkie2

garfield33 wrote: »

Hi MSE-ers, just wondering if anyone is in a similar position to me and knows anything more -

I'd booked tickets for Birmingham-Windermere (and back) via the trainline - the route is part Virgin, part Northern Rail. A couple of days ago (as part of all the Northern Rail fun), the Lakes part of the journey will now be on rail replacement bus - wouldn't normally be a problem for me but it's highly likely to make me late for my appointment so I'm going to have to drive instead. Am I entitled to a refund? I bought non refundable advance single tickets, but wondered if it was different if the train operators are the reason for me needing to cancel?

I called trainline earlier but they said I need to call back the day before I travel, because their systems say those trains are still running...! (indeed you can book the same route on their website and there's no mention of it being buses!)

Thanks everyone

If (any of) the train(s) you are booked to travel on are cancelled, and you choose not to travel, you are entitled to receive a full refund.

garfield33

Thanks Yorkie - I called back a couple of days later, the person I spoke to still said that the cancellations weren't confirmed, so I said (again) that's it's all over the news and the train company websites, and she said "ok I'll put the cancellation through then" - all fine!

drpurple

Hi MSE-ers

I'd appreciate feedback if anyone has the answer to this one - can't find it anywhere on the 'official' train websites.
If you are delayed but don't have Advance tickets, just Anytime ones, can you still claim compensation? We've been delayed commuting (Northern and TPE) every day for weeks now but as we buy our tickets each morning it's not for a specific train. It's causing sometimes over an hour delay getting to work, and in some cases we've given up and worked from home (luckily we have that option).
Don't have season/monthly/weekly tickets, just ones for that day.

Thanks for any replies.

jbuchanangb

You can claim for delay when you have walked up on the day, and then been delayed. Last year my daughter walked up on the day, bought a return to Manchester, via London, but on arrival an hour later at Euston found all trains were cancelled. As she had critical business in Manchester she travelled via Doncaster and arrived over 2 hours late. Applied for and received a full refund..

So if you show up at 7.15am, buy an anytime return to wherever, board the train at 7.25, expecting to get to wherever at 8.15, but it doesn't get there until 9.15, then you have an hours delay to claim for.

But if you show up at 7.15am, and it is made known to you that all trains are cancelled etc. before you buy a ticket, and you buy one anyway, then don't expect to have a valid claim.