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Do Heritage Operators offer Delay Repay?

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bearhugger

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The issue does seem to often revolve around pre-booked locked out coaches for organised trips and when these combine with bad weather then the residual seating comes under pressure. I was on the NYMR last summer on a wet day and the 10.00am service from Pickering was to put it mildly, overcrowded. Standing room only in every carriage and not a seat to be had - the situation was made worse by also having to wait for 30 minutes at Levisham for a late running service from Grosmont that had failed to make it up the bank to Goathland. There were some seriously annoyed customers on board and I am sure a few claims for money back would have been experienced by the NYMR - an adult return to Grosmont was around £25.00 from memory so it's not cheap.
Following on from this post in the Standees on heritage railways thread make me wonder if any of the heritage operaters offer Delay Repay for late running services or would a claim for money back be dealt with on a sort ofgoodwill basis?
 
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tnxrail

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I never have asked but I like others have been to railways when things happen to affect the timetable out of the people running the railways control, they always apologies and try and fix the problems if possible. But I don't remember anyone outwardly offering any compensation but also not saying you could not ask for any. I guess you would have to look at there terms and conditions etc if they have any published.
 

Belperpete

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I have known complimentary tickets issued in cases of VERY severe delay. You are highly unlikely to get anything for a mere 15 minutes late.
 

theironroad

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Would you have got 'delay repay' in days of yore . It's all about the heritage experience, though hope sandwiches have improved.....
 

John Webb

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Most heritage railway websites on their ticket/fare pages are usually very careful to point out that they are operating with elderly engines and that trains may be cancelled at short notice as a consequence of unexpected problems. I've not seen any offer any 'delay repay'!
 

thedbdiboy

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Most are charitable endeavours so in general, I consider money paid a contribution to upkeep....
 

AnthonyRail

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How would they work it out or prove you were on train. One train delayed means the next would be.
 
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EbbwJunction1

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I think that the only time that I would ask for compensation is if all of the services on that day failed to operate.

In that case, I'd probably ask for a replacement ticket on a date of my choice, especially if I had travelled a good distance and didn't know when I would be back in the area next.
 

trebor79

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In any case, you're paying for an experience, not a journey. If that takes longer, you're getting more for your money, aren't you?

Depends whether you are on the train or a small rural platform in the middle of winter.
My mum still talks about the time I pestered her to take me on the Tanfield Railways' then new extension to East Tanfield, before there was a station there. So you just sat in the train whilst the loco ran around. A very desolate patch of waste land on the edge of an industrial estate, a bit post apocalyptic, especially on a cold, wet, grey day.
Anyway, we get to East Tanfield, the loco runs round, then shunts back into the loop. The guard (who we both found hilarious from other trips) then made his way through the train announcing that there was a problem with the loco and we'd be here for some time. So we sat in a freezing cold converted banana waggon, watching the footplate crew cook their potatoes with mum saying there was hope for me finding a girl as the fireman was a lady (could tell only because she was wearing lipstick as was in overalls and completely covered in coal dust).
After we'd been there about 30 minutes, a chap with his very young daughter mused "Mummy is going to wonder where we've got to". The child then pipes up "Yes Daddy, that's a good question, where on earth ARE we?" :lol:
Anyway after lots of kerfuffle they hooked up 2 diesel locos (the powerful one had no vacuum brake and the one with the vacuum brake wasn't powerful enough to drag us back up the hill to Andrews House) and off we went. I was very jealous that the chap who got on at Sunnyside was taken back there in the cab of one of the locos.
We didn't even think of asking for our money back, just glad to get home for a nice cup of tea!
 

yorkie

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Following on from this post in the Standees on heritage railways thread make me wonder if any of the heritage operaters offer Delay Repay for late running services ...
No. Delay Repay is very generous; far more so than any other compensation scheme/policy I have heard of anywhere. There is zero chance of a heritage railway offering Delay Repay.
 

AndyY1951

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I confess that I'm rather shocked that this thread even exists! Surely anybody on a Railway Forum understands the basis on which nearly all preserved railways exist, they aren't commercial enterprises set up to make profit for shareholders.
 

Nighthawke

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A sad reflection of today's "modern" society where the expectation is compensation for the slightest inconvenience. What next - claiming travel costs for going to the shop only to find they're out of stock of whatever you went for?
 

carlberry

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I confess that I'm rather shocked that this thread even exists! Surely anybody on a Railway Forum understands the basis on which nearly all preserved railways exist, they aren't commercial enterprises set up to make profit for shareholders.
Several of the (ex) mainline operators could claim that they were no longer commercial!
 

Bletchleyite

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A sad reflection of today's "modern" society where the expectation is compensation for the slightest inconvenience. What next - claiming travel costs for going to the shop only to find they're out of stock of whatever you went for?

I don't know about that, but poor stock control is a good reason why people are switching to online shopping, so if shops want to attract people back...
 

Belperpete

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I confess that I'm rather shocked that this thread even exists! Surely anybody on a Railway Forum understands the basis on which nearly all preserved railways exist, they aren't commercial enterprises set up to make profit for shareholders.
However, there are some that are commercial enterprises set up to make a profit.
 
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I feel that one of the conditions of being able to establish a mainline 'connection' is that the railway concerned then agrees to participate under the delay repay scheme. Say for instance I am travelling from Ropley to Newcastle splitting my ticket at Alton, i.e I purchase a Ropley to Alton first class single for travel on the Mid Hants Railway and then a separate first class single from Alton to Newcastle (So it could be said that it is one journey with split tickets as I fully allowed to have more than one ticket for a journey). My train from Ropley to my connection point at Alton (with say more than any valid connection time) is delayed as a result of the Mid Hants Railway, such that my SWR train to Waterloo is missed at Alton so I then miss my train at London Kings Cross. Is it then fair that I am unable to claim the delay compensation that I am entitled to for arriving at my destination more than 30 minutes late. I should be entitled to claim from the railway company that caused this delay. Did SWR cause the delay - NO. Did LNER cause the delay - NO. Did the Mid Hants Railway Ltd cause the delay - YES. So who do I claim my delay repay compensation from here? Perhaps if this obligation existed for any operator that enables 'through' journeys onto the national rail network it might focus the minds of the members of staff on these lines to up their game to actually run to the correct timetable. This is said as a volunteer on a number of these operators where the last train of the day has in the past routinely been delayed due to 'awaiting catering staff'.
 
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However, there are some that are commercial enterprises set up to make a profit.
They all have to make "a profit" in order to meet necessary capital expenditure. In another thread people are moaning about having to stand, a situation partly caused by a lack of useable rolling stock. The expectations people have nowadays of what are effectively volunteer led moving museums is staggering. None of these are awash with money, and paying delay repay, because people expect to make time critical journeys is surely suggested as a joke.
 

43096

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I feel that one of the conditions of being able to establish a mainline 'connection' is that the railway concerned then agrees to participate under the delay repay scheme. Say for instance I am travelling from Ropley to Newcastle splitting my ticket at Alton, i.e I purchase a Ropley to Alton first class single for travel on the Mid Hants Railway and then a separate first class single from Alton to Newcastle (So it could be said that it is one journey with split tickets as I fully allowed to have more than one ticket for a journey). My train from Ropley to my connection point at Alton (with say more than any valid connection time) is delayed as a result of the Mid Hants Railway, such that my SWR train to Waterloo is missed at Alton so I then miss my train at London Kings Cross. Is it then fair that I am unable to claim the delay compensation that I am entitled to for arriving at my destination more than 30 minutes late. I should be entitled to claim from the railway company that caused this delay. Did SWR cause the delay - NO. Did LNER cause the delay - NO. Did the Mid Hants Railway Ltd cause the delay - YES. So who do I claim my delay repay compensation from here? Perhaps if this obligation existed for any operator that enables 'through' journeys onto the national rail network it might focus the minds of the members of staff on these lines to up their game to actually run to the correct timetable. This is said as a volunteer on a number of these operators where the last train of the day has in the past routinely been delayed due to 'awaiting catering staff'.
Do you claim “Delay Repay” if your bus is delayed or there are roadworks if you drive in the same scenario? It’s up to you to get to the start of your National Rail journey in time.
 

Nippy

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While I do agree you shouldn't get Delay Repay (and it didn't affect me financially), I have used the SDR before, left an hour for a connection at Totnes and missed it due to being sat at Bishops Bridge Loop waiting for a late running driver experience trip to come up from Totnes. Now, I'm in on a Priv so I just jump in the next one to Padd, but if on advance its new ticket time......
 

Dai Corner

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I doubt if any sensible heritage railway operator would accept potential liability for Delay Repay claims which might be many times their fares if long journeys were involved.

However, I wonder what would happen if a NYMR train caused delays to Northern trains on the Whitby branch where they share the tracks. Northern passengers would be entitled to compensation but would Northern seek to reclaim this from NYMR?
 

packermac

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I feel that one of the conditions of being able to establish a mainline 'connection' is that the railway concerned then agrees to participate under the delay repay scheme. Say for instance I am travelling from Ropley to Newcastle splitting my ticket at Alton, i.e I purchase a Ropley to Alton first class single for travel on the Mid Hants Railway and then a separate first class single from Alton to Newcastle (So it could be said that it is one journey with split tickets as I fully allowed to have more than one ticket for a journey). My train from Ropley to my connection point at Alton (with say more than any valid connection time) is delayed as a result of the Mid Hants Railway, such that my SWR train to Waterloo is missed at Alton so I then miss my train at London Kings Cross. Is it then fair that I am unable to claim the delay compensation that I am entitled to for arriving at my destination more than 30 minutes late. I should be entitled to claim from the railway company that caused this delay. Did SWR cause the delay - NO. Did LNER cause the delay - NO. Did the Mid Hants Railway Ltd cause the delay - YES. So who do I claim my delay repay compensation from here? Perhaps if this obligation existed for any operator that enables 'through' journeys onto the national rail network it might focus the minds of the members of staff on these lines to up their game to actually run to the correct timetable. This is said as a volunteer on a number of these operators where the last train of the day has in the past routinely been delayed due to 'awaiting catering staff'.
That is as bizarre as saying your Ryanair flight into LGW was late so you missed your onward BA flight and Ryanair should in someway pay. Try arguing that one with Mr. O'Leary.
In both cases it would be similar modes of transport but two carriers who operate under different non linked regimes.
 

Belperpete

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As Yorkie said previously, Delay Repay is one of the most generous compensation schemes available, certainly more generous than that offered if your flight is delayed. TOCs sign up to it when they tender for their franchises, and the expense is built into their business model. It is unrealistic to expect other organisations to voluntarily shoulder the same kind of expense. Even though some heritage lines may offer a connection to the national network, they are essentially leisure enterprises, not transport providers. Remember that many metro systems that have through ticketing arrangements don't offer delay repay.
 

SquireBev

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I feel that one of the conditions of being able to establish a mainline 'connection' is that the railway concerned then agrees to participate under the delay repay scheme. Say for instance I am travelling from Ropley to Newcastle splitting my ticket at Alton, i.e I purchase a Ropley to Alton first class single for travel on the Mid Hants Railway and then a separate first class single from Alton to Newcastle (So it could be said that it is one journey with split tickets as I fully allowed to have more than one ticket for a journey). My train from Ropley to my connection point at Alton (with say more than any valid connection time) is delayed as a result of the Mid Hants Railway, such that my SWR train to Waterloo is missed at Alton so I then miss my train at London Kings Cross. Is it then fair that I am unable to claim the delay compensation that I am entitled to for arriving at my destination more than 30 minutes late. I should be entitled to claim from the railway company that caused this delay. Did SWR cause the delay - NO. Did LNER cause the delay - NO. Did the Mid Hants Railway Ltd cause the delay - YES. So who do I claim my delay repay compensation from here? Perhaps if this obligation existed for any operator that enables 'through' journeys onto the national rail network it might focus the minds of the members of staff on these lines to up their game to actually run to the correct timetable. This is said as a volunteer on a number of these operators where the last train of the day has in the past routinely been delayed due to 'awaiting catering staff'.

What a bizarre post.
 
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