But there are limits on what is going to be possible. If LNER cancel a last train, they will (rightly) have to pay for taxis home for those passengers. If LNER discover in the middle of the night that their entire fleet is suddenly unserviceable, they aren’t required to pay for for taxis for potentially tens of thousands of passengers across their entire network. Indeed it would be physically impossible to do so!
Which is why it’s useful to offer a range of low cost / low hassle to no cost / no hassle options.
I agree that expecting them to transport everyone on a bus or taxis is ridiculous, so offer alternatives to thin out the numbers that need to do that.
1. full refund from place of purchase. The regulators need to step in here and enforce the rules because they’re being rejected left right and centre as they are every single time.
2. use your ticket at a different time on a different day. Put some limitations on it if necessary, tickets for 1830 only valid on services between 1630 and 2030 2 days before or after your train and you MUST book a seat for the new service in advance. Or you must follow peak/ off peak guidelines. Or whatever they feel is necessary.
3. speak to staff and get yourself on one of the very very limited services available.
If the TOCs can get people to sod off on a bus and get a refund then it’s no longer their concern. If they can get them booked on a train on Wednesday it’s hopefully sorted. If they can send them on a massive diversion that will get them there that’s fine. This leaves fewer people to get on the trains today. These are actually generally low cost alternatives that they could put in place. They’re generally quite easy (with the exception of ticket acceptance) and don’t cost the operator much of anything.
The approach they’ve taken on the other hand generates more revenue. It’s no easier but it’s more profitable.