Train strike AUGUST 13 - stranded in Brum ?

deejaybee

Hi all,

ASLEF have called a strike for train drivers on August 13.

A while back i bought an advance return ( on LNER.COM ) for Totnes - Brum New St ( AUG 12 ) and Brum New St - Totnes ( AUG 13 )

Obviously i will be able to get up to Brum ok on 12th, but at this stage i dont think there are any details on which services will be impacted and what percentage of trains will be running if any ?

I'm thinking to try to get refund and replan my journey, probably drive instead. But on LNER site it looks like they dont refund for Advance Tickets - you have to take an e-voucher instead....

Advice appreciated, thanks.

onashoestring

If the strike goes ahead and your train is cancelled you will be able to get a full refund . 

However at this stage there is no way of knowing if the strike will be called off or your train service will be affected . For this reason so you won’t be able to get a refund before the date of travel .  

deejaybee

Thanks for feedback !

Its the possibility of there being no trains to get me back home that is troubling me - so as an extreme example would they refund me the cost of getting a taxi from Brum to Totnes ?!?!

onashoestring

From the national rail website 
“ While we cannot refund taxi or hotel bills, if you decide to travel during a strike period and your chosen train is affected, you may be able to use your ticket on another train company or by an alternative route. Where disruption prevents you from completing your journey for which your Ticket is valid and is being used, any train company will, where it reasonably can, provide you with alternative means of travel to your destination, or if necessary, provide overnight accommodation for you.”

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/industrialaction.aspx

Kite2010

The level of service XC might run on that day is a bit of an unknown as it's the first driver strike (they are not involved with this Saturday). However it might be worth looking into coaches, based on the assumption that nothing will be running towards Totnes.

At the time of posting there seems to be a National Express option leaving Birmingham at Midday to get back at Totnes for 20:50 with a 3 hour break at Exeter for £34.30.  Or an option at 18:00 getting back into Totnes for 00:15 for £29.90.

If you decide to cancel the trip, you should be able to get a voucher for the 12th under the "Book with confidence" scheme, although that is assuming the accommodation you are using on the 12th will allow you a free cancellation (or a free date swap)

deejaybee

Cheers for the feedback so far, appreciated.

As its 2 weeks away now, im going to wait a few days and hopefully LNER will have updated details around what services ( if any) they think will be running on Aug 13th.

My hotel accomodation is non-refundable, and i have also paid for football match tickets.

The later coach above might be an option for getting back to Totnes,  we pay for parking at Totnes station so i will probably pay for extra time just to be on safe side.

BarGin

I'm in a similar situation. I've booked two advance tickets from Barnstaple to Tunbridge Wells and back next week. Outward on 10th and return on 13th. I was wondering if I can use my return ticket on the 12th?

deejaybee

X Country confirmed no trains on Aug 13.

Can use tickets up to 16th.

So, have booked another night at same hotel, my original one night stay is non-refundable as it is a Hilton Honours special deal.

Will travel back ( hopefully ) on 14th.

Where do i stand with getting any refunds, as im out of pocket for another hotel night.

Can i get refund for train tickets ?  would they know if i had travelled or not ?

SiliconChip

deejaybee said:

Where do i stand with getting any refunds, as im out of pocket for another hotel night.

Can i get refund for train tickets ?  would they know if i had travelled or not ?

No chance on hotel cost, maybe try your travel insurance if you have any although I wouldn't hold out a lot of hope.

Not sure why you'd be asking for a refund on your train tickets, won't you be using them for the return journey on the 14th? If you did try to claim having used them for travel that would be fraud.

KeithP

SiliconChip said:

deejaybee said:

Where do i stand with getting any refunds, as im out of pocket for another hotel night.

Can i get refund for train tickets ?  would they know if i had travelled or not ?

Not sure why you'd be asking for a refund on your train tickets, won't you be using them for the return journey on the 14th? If you did try to claim having used them for travel that would be fraud.

Surely when travel is delayed to the next day, a Delay Repay refund of the full cost of the ticket would be due?
Are you really saying that in that situation receiving a full refund and also travelling is fraud? 

SiliconChip

KeithP said:

SiliconChip said:

deejaybee said:

Where do i stand with getting any refunds, as im out of pocket for another hotel night.

Can i get refund for train tickets ?  would they know if i had travelled or not ?

Not sure why you'd be asking for a refund on your train tickets, won't you be using them for the return journey on the 14th? If you did try to claim having used them for travel that would be fraud.

Surely when travel is delayed to the next day, a Delay Repay refund of the full cost of the ticket would be due?
Are you really saying that in that situation receiving a full refund and also travelling is fraud? 

I take your point, and if you say that Delay Replay covers this circumstance then I'll believe you as I've only used it for short delays, but if it does cover it then everybody with a ticket for travel on the 13th will be able to travel for free on another day. Rather than what you describe I would expect either a full refund to be offered or travel on another day, but not both.