No direct trains London St P to Leicester this Saturday 13 April

[BluePenguin]

And... my partner just went into an EMT mainline station again. Was told that both the EMT website and the NRE website are both wrong and you cannot use your ticket on the Euston to Nuneaton to Leicester route tomorrow . Different staff member.

That really does not matter at all. Your ticket IS valid as many people have explained to you. People on this forum has used far questionable tickets to travel than yours and have lived to tell the tale.

Don't worry your journey using that ticket will be fine. We understand you are feeling nervous although you have nothing to worry about. Staff get things wrong sometimes and you should take what you are told with a pinch of salt as what they say is not gospel. Nobody knows everything but some no nothing. It might be a good idea to complain about the staff members you spoke to as they should not be giving out advice that is wrong.

 

[suzanneparis]

Many thanks alistairlees. I am tempted to complain as I have found the whole situation upsetting. Thanks again

 

[suzanneparis]

2 members of staff at Euston said it was ok to use the ticket.

 

[30907]

2 members of staff at Euston said it was ok to use the ticket.

Glad but not surprised to hear it. Certainly report the misinformation to EMT with date place and approximate time

 

[yorkie]

I am sorry but I don't understand the 3 mile rule.

But are you saying that my ticket isn't valid?

Just to recap; it is valid:

If you would like me to explain exactly why it is valid that way, and why it should be (and was historically) valid that way, I will do so if you like. I'm not sure if you are just asking for some advice on your journey or want to receive a full and complete technical analysis?

I'm happy to explain things if required, but I thought you were simply seeking assurances that it's valid.

And the advice/offer I sent to you via private conversation still applies if you are still worried.

I just find it weird that EMT have the route on their website but their staff claim it's not valid.

It's not particularly uncommon for a member of staff to incorrectly claim a valid ticket isn't valid; I am aware of dozens of occasions this year and I am sure I only become aware of only a tiny percentage of the overall occasions.

Some staff simply will not look up whether or not a ticket is valid on NRE or their own systems and/or will not honour reservations/itineraries.

There doesn't appear to be any organisation or body that can bring about change. This is why conflict management/avoidance techniques is a topic we can cover at our free fares workshops, for anyone who is interested.

 

[suzanneparis]

Thanks Yorkie and everyone else. All went well on both legs of the journey. Genuinely appreciate all of the kind help you afforded me.

Regarding the more general point of management making sure staff receive adequate training, perhaps this should be included in the requirements for holding a rail franchise. I wonder if I should write to my MP regarding this.

 

[ChrisC]

I suspect that the advice is intended to be more general, i.e. for passengers to all MML stations. There happens to be a specific alternative for Leicester (as indeed there is for Nottingham via Grantham) that isn't covered by the general message.

Anyone using the EMT website to book a journey from Nottingham to London this weekend would find that the journey planner mainly only shows journeys to Kings Cross via Grantham. That will automatically happen because journey times are much shorter by that route when compared with the MML route including bus from Corby to Bedford.
Via Grantham is indeed a valid route from Nottingham to London and actually fares by that route are very slightly lower.

However, all day today, and at other times when there has been engineering works on the MML, the advice that it is much easier and quicker to travel via Grantham does not seem to be very widely advertised and pointed out to the travelling public. Not once today has it been mentioned on the regular travel reports on BBC Radio Nottingham. Each travel report has explained that due to engineering works, there is a train to Corby, then bus to Bedford, then train to St Pancras with increased journey times in access of one hour. Not a mention of the easier and quicker route via Grantham. I also can’t remember seeing any reference to travel via Grantham on any of the posters on Nottingham Station giving information about this weekends travel disruption between Nottingham and London.

 

[Hadders]

Anyone using the EMT website to book a journey from Nottingham to London this weekend would find that the journey planner mainly only shows journeys to Kings Cross via Grantham. That will automatically happen because journey times are much shorter by that route when compared with the MML route including bus from Corby to Bedford.
Via Grantham is indeed a valid route from Nottingham to London and actually fares by that route are very slightly lower.

However, all day today, and at other times when there has been engineering works on the MML, the advice that it is much easier and quicker to travel via Grantham does not seem to be very widely advertised and pointed out to the travelling public. Not once today has it been mentioned on the regular travel reports on BBC Radio Nottingham. Each travel report has explained that due to engineering works, there is a train to Corby, then bus to Bedford, then train to St Pancras with increased journey times in access of one hour. Not a mention of the easier and quicker route via Grantham. I also can’t remember seeing any reference to travel via Grantham on any of the posters on Nottingham Station giving information about this weekends travel disruption between Nottingham and London.

Whilst it's a permitted route if they encouraged travel via Grantham there would be severe overcrowding and not everyone would be able to travel.

 

[Silverdale]

Whilst it's a permitted route if they encouraged travel via Grantham there would be severe overcrowding and not everyone would be able to travel.

Why are RRBs the only option offered to customers? Is there no capacity available at weekends for any extra services to run from London via the ECML and WCML to destinations such as Leicester, Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield?

 

[Hadders]

Why are RRBs the only option offered to customers? Is there no capacity available at weekends for any extra services to run from London via the ECML and WCML to destinations such as Leicester, Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield?

It’s how you get people to Grantham that’s the main problem.

The ECML isn’t exactly carting fresh air around at weekends, Sunday afternoon and evenings being some of the busiest times of the week.

 

[Haywain]

Is there no capacity available at weekends for any extra services to run from London via the ECML and WCML to destinations such as Leicester, Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield?

It's not just capacity to run trains, you also need suitable trains and crews who have appropriate route and traction knowledge, whilst also running the services on the existing routes for intermediate stations. And those other routes also have engineering work to deal with.

 

[suzanneparis]

Related question

If everything is ok with the line between St Pancras and Leicester, would it be 'a permitted route' to go Euston-Nuneaton-Leicester? Using a super off peak saver. Or, in those circumstances must I use the usual EMT St P to Leicester.

Just wondered.

Thanks

 

[alistairlees]

Related question

If everything is ok with the line between St Pancras and Leicester, would it be 'a permitted route' to go Euston-Nuneaton-Leicester? Using a super off peak saver. Or, in those circumstances must I use the usual EMT St P to Leicester.

Just wondered.

Thanks

It’s still permitted.

 

[suzanneparis]

Thanks alistairlees. That's most interesting. And would I be allowed to break my journey at Nuneaton? On both the outward (from Leicester to London) and return journeys.

 

[alistairlees]

Thanks alistairlees. That's most interesting. And would I be allowed to break my journey at Nuneaton? On both the outward (from Leicester to London) and return journeys.

Yes, providing the ticket type allows that (which it does, in this case, for any ticket routed "Any Permitted").

 

[suzanneparis]

Thanks again alistairlees.

 

[LowLevel]

Anyone using the EMT website to book a journey from Nottingham to London this weekend would find that the journey planner mainly only shows journeys to Kings Cross via Grantham. That will automatically happen because journey times are much shorter by that route when compared with the MML route including bus from Corby to Bedford.
Via Grantham is indeed a valid route from Nottingham to London and actually fares by that route are very slightly lower.

However, all day today, and at other times when there has been engineering works on the MML, the advice that it is much easier and quicker to travel via Grantham does not seem to be very widely advertised and pointed out to the travelling public. Not once today has it been mentioned on the regular travel reports on BBC Radio Nottingham. Each travel report has explained that due to engineering works, there is a train to Corby, then bus to Bedford, then train to St Pancras with increased journey times in access of one hour. Not a mention of the easier and quicker route via Grantham. I also can’t remember seeing any reference to travel via Grantham on any of the posters on Nottingham Station giving information about this weekends travel disruption between Nottingham and London.

It's a dandy idea as long as you factor in the potential for an hour delay due to being unable to board the very full Nottingham to Grantham and vice versa trains. EMT did strengthen some services but there's only so much robbing Peter to pay Paul you can manage.

 

[VT 390]

It's a dandy idea as long as you factor in the potential for an hour delay due to being unable to board the very full Nottingham to Grantham and vice versa trains. EMT did strengthen some services but there's only so much robbing Peter to pay Paul you can manage.

Would East Midlands Trains have actually needed all their 222's and HST's to operate the reduced Midland Mainline service, if not then why did they not use some of these to either operate some of the Grantham services or run additional shuttle services between Nottingham and Grantham?

 

[LowLevel]

Would East Midlands Trains have actually needed all their 222's and HST's to operate the reduced Midland Mainline service, if not then why did they not use some of these to either operate some of the Grantham services or run additional shuttle services between Nottingham and Grantham?

Amongst other things no spare traincrews available who sign the route and traction.