Continuing journey / costs if last train is cancelled.

pthompson

Having recently been left stranded when my last train was cancelled, I'm wondering what my rights are...   

I had to check into a hotel and catch the first train the next morning.   Could I have claimed from the train operator for either or both of those expenses?  Or had I taken a taxi instead (I was quoted £170, but none was available anyway), would I have been able to claim that?

Otherwise, the insurance option available when booking tickets through apps such as Trainline offers "additional costs reasonably incurred to get you to your final destination", so I suppose that's the best option for future.  Do most of you reading this opt for that?

Alternatively would I be able to claim against my annual travel insurance or credit card company?

I have a few long-distance train journeys planned for December, and with disappointing recent experiences I'm a little nervous about finding myself similarly let down (especially with the possibility of knock-on effects of strikes).  

Any advice / suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

daveyjp

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/National%20Rail%20Conditions%20of%20Travel.pdf

28.2 Where disruption prevents you from completing the 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.

Of course 'reasonably can' is the perfect get out. 

Bicycleman22

This happened to me recently at Doncaster (very busy station ). The platform staff tried to re route me but couldnt so they booked  a taxi just for me all the way to Manchester without any issue at all. I had a ticket from splitmyfare not that it made any difference. Given my experience just make sure the station will have staff on at that time of night and you should be okay.

diystarter7

Bicycleman22 said:

This happened to me recently at Doncaster (very busy station ). The platform staff tried to re route me but couldnt so they booked  a taxi just for me all the way to Manchester without any issue at all. I had a ticket from splitmyfare not that it made any difference. Given my experience just make sure the station will have staff on at that time of night and you should be okay.

Hi

Thank you for sharing. I'm glad it worked out for you. Your post will give others hope.
Take care.

pthompson

Bicycleman22 said:

This happened to me recently at Doncaster (very busy station ). The platform staff tried to re route me but couldnt so they booked  a taxi just for me all the way to Manchester without any issue at all. I had a ticket from splitmyfare not that it made any difference. Given my experience just make sure the station will have staff on at that time of night and you should be okay.

Thanks for your helpful comment.

Incidentally, several decades ago when returning home from boarding school I found myself in a similar situation at the tiny station of Habrough due to a missed connection.  The signal-box operator came to my rescue by arranging for a freight train to stop and I continued my journey in the driver's cab!   I can't imagine that happening nowadays.

diystarter7

Thanks OP...

p00hsticks

As Bicycleman22 says, your best bet is to ask for advice from the station staff or, if there are none to be found, try calling the rail company. They should be able to either arrange a taxi or an overnight stop for you - I've had them organise a taxi from Stoke to Manchester before now.  The rail companies will have arrangements with taxi companies and hotels, so want you to let them sort it out rather than you presenting them later with a bill for a taxi or hotel you've booked yourself with no prior agreement from them.

NBLondon

p00hsticks said:

As Bicycleman22 says, your best bet is to ask for advice from the station staff or, if there are none to be found, try calling the rail company. They should be able to either arrange a taxi or an overnight stop for you - I've had them organise a taxi from Stoke to Manchester before now.  The rail companies will have arrangements with taxi companies and hotels, so want you to let them sort it out rather than you presenting them later with a bill for a taxi or hotel you've booked yourself with no prior agreement from them.

Agree - Some years back a failed connection left me at Stockport with over an hour waiting. A member of staff saw me sitting on the platform filling in the delay claim form and promptly ordered me a taxi to destination; about a £30 fare.

yorkie2

If you are stranded, any train company in a position to assist should do so; if necessary this could involve transporting you by road transport or in rare cases put you up in a hotel.

Don't book anything yourself; the relevant rail company should do this for you. There may be very rare exceptions to this, such as where the train company is overwhelmed and unable to arrange this, but under normal circumstances I would advise against making your own bookings.

cheshirelabrador

pthompson said:

Alternatively would I be able to claim against my annual travel insurance or credit card company?

A train operator will usually (eventually) issue a refund for an unused journey following a cancellation. You'd normally contact your card company if one isn't issued after an extended period of time, or if they dispute the refund claim, despite not running the service.

You'd have to check the terms of your travel insurance. They may cover you for an unused hotel stay due to train cancellations but they probably won't cover you for what the train company is legally required to provide.