Train delays caused missed appointment

itwasntme001

Hi,

I was due to attend a private medical appointment but due to delays on the train I could not make it on time so it was cancelled and I still have to pay the late charge for the appointment (which is a bit less than the full cost).

I am wondering what my rights are on this or if there is anything that can be done to reduce the charge?

The train was about 50min late, and I left to expect arriving 20min earlier than the appointment time.

The train delays were due to tresspassers on the tracks.  Is it possible to claim not just the train ticket cost but also the appointment charge from the train company?

Or is my best bet just the train ticket cost and plead with the private health centre to reduce the charge further?

Olinda99

google 'delay repay' for what you are entitled to re train ticket

as for anything else - if only !

400ixl

Yep, you will likely be eligible for delay repay from the train operator.

The fact that you did not allow enough time to take a delay into account is not the train lines problem and they are not responsible for any consequential losses.

itwasntme001

400ixl said:

Yep, you will likely be eligible for delay repay from the train operator.

The fact that you did not allow enough time to take a delay into account is not the train lines problem and they are not responsible for any consequential losses.

I already allowed 20min.  How much time should I have allowed?  Given the delay it looks like 1 hour minimum?

I mean seriously, should I really have to allow 1 hour delays everytime I want to take the train for an appointment?

user1977

itwasntme001 said:

400ixl said:

Yep, you will likely be eligible for delay repay from the train operator.

The fact that you did not allow enough time to take a delay into account is not the train lines problem and they are not responsible for any consequential losses.

I mean seriously, should I really have to allow 1 hour delays everytime I want to take the train for an appointment?

Probably not, but neither should you seriously expect the railways to shell out for consequential losses.

mjm3346

itwasntme001 said:

400ixl said:

Yep, you will likely be eligible for delay repay from the train operator.

The fact that you did not allow enough time to take a delay into account is not the train lines problem and they are not responsible for any consequential losses.

I already allowed 20min.  How much time should I have allowed?  Given the delay it looks like 1 hour minimum?

I mean seriously, should I really have to allow 1 hour delays everytime I want to take the train for an appointment?

Allowing at least an hour extra is a good starting point - depends how frequent the service should be and how long the normal journey time is (the more important the appointment the longer to allow, for day to day commuting just allowing 20 to 30 mins is enough)

DullGreyGuy

itwasntme001 said:

400ixl said:

Yep, you will likely be eligible for delay repay from the train operator.

The fact that you did not allow enough time to take a delay into account is not the train lines problem and they are not responsible for any consequential losses.

I already allowed 20min.  How much time should I have allowed?  Given the delay it looks like 1 hour minimum?

I mean seriously, should I really have to allow 1 hour delays everytime I want to take the train for an appointment?

Depends on the distance, what your alternatives are if there are no trains running and the implications of being late. 15-20 minutes is what I would leave if catching the tube somewhere because I can get an Uber and still make it in time if I find the line is down etc. If its an interview or something more important it'd be 45 minutes, if its beyond the affordable range of a taxi then an hour. 

Did you actually call them as soon as you realised you would be late or just no show? If you did call, did you call the secretary or the clinic? I have needed to be late before to a private medical and a quick call to the secretary got the diary juggled without any cost.

Okell

itwasntme001 said:

400ixl said:

Yep, you will likely be eligible for delay repay from the train operator.

The fact that you did not allow enough time to take a delay into account is not the train lines problem and they are not responsible for any consequential losses.

I already allowed 20min.  How much time should I have allowed?  Given the delay it looks like 1 hour minimum?

I mean seriously, should I really have to allow 1 hour delays everytime I want to take the train for an appointment?

If I had to travel to a private medical appointment and it was far enough away to require travel by train, I'd start by allowing two hours.

I'm not joking.  A delay of at least an hour on a train is perfectly foreseeable and private medical consultations are expensive. 

Planning to arrive just 20 minutes before the appointment is asking for trouble

DullGreyGuy

Okell said:

itwasntme001 said:

400ixl said:

Yep, you will likely be eligible for delay repay from the train operator.

The fact that you did not allow enough time to take a delay into account is not the train lines problem and they are not responsible for any consequential losses.

I already allowed 20min.  How much time should I have allowed?  Given the delay it looks like 1 hour minimum?

I mean seriously, should I really have to allow 1 hour delays everytime I want to take the train for an appointment?

If I had to travel to a private medical appointment and it was far enough away to require travel by train, I'd start by allowing two hours.

Travelling by train doesn't necessarily mean its far, sometimes its just the most convenient method. We seem to be assuming, including me, that the delay was prior to boarding or the train was just on a go slow. It can be the train stops between stations and you're just stuck. Still would have allowed more than 20 minutes but it eliminates switching to another transport method.

A friend took the Stourbridge Shuttle, the whole line is 0.8 miles, was stuck on it for far longer than the 3 minutes it takes end to end because if there is a problem they still won't just open the doors and allow you to wander on the line etc. 

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

If the expectation is to leave at least an hour early if travelling by train all I can say is I’m glad I don’t have to rely on trains! 

AFAIK the CRA applies to train tickets (happy to be corrected), question would be whether the issue was a lack of due care and skill and if so whether your damages (health care expenses) were foreseeable.

In terms of the health care, they can claim either costs or loss of profit, but rocking the boat with them might not be wise if you are still seeking treatment  

DullGreyGuy

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

If the expectation is to leave at least an hour early if travelling by train all I can say is I’m glad I don’t have to rely on trains! 

AFAIK the CRA applies to train tickets (happy to be corrected), question would be whether the issue was a lack of due care and skill and if so whether your damages (health care expenses) were foreseeable.

In terms of the health care, they can claim either costs or loss of profit, but rocking the boat with them might not be wise if you are still seeking treatment  

OP says it is trespassers on the tracks... how could a train company stop people getting on the tracks? Unfortunately they arent allowed to just put their foot on the accelerator and say it was the trespassers own decision to go onto the tracks. 

Yeah, dont know what's wrong with the OP but wouldn't want to be suing the person thats going to be using a knife on me whilst I'm unconscious... at least wait until the treatment is finished.