Any way of getting to a person, as opposed to automated system, about missing items?

[SouthernGrebe]

I accidentally left a piece of luggage (half asleep from lack of sleep due to flying in to Stansted early in the morning) on the train when I alighted in Oxford.

The train was heading to Great Malvern, which is not a large station, so I suspect that if the luggage was lost there, people would notice it fairly quickly.

I have reported the missing luggage on MissingX, but I was wondering if anyone knew if it was possible to directly contact the station at Great Malvern and ask if they found an unclaimed piece of luggage. Ideally before Monday as it includes my work computer.

 

[Hadlow Road]

National Rail, GWR and West Midlands all offer 0333 311 0039, so I‘d start there. Good luck with the recovery.

 

[SouthernGrebe]

National Rail, GWR and West Midlands all offer 0333 311 0039, so I‘d start there. Good luck with the recovery.

Thanks, I’ll contact them then. Any other advice about how to best ensure recovery? Should I go to Malvern and ask about it?

 

[John R]

Thanks, I’ll contact them then. Any other advice about how to best ensure recovery? Should I go to Malvern and ask about it?

I think it's highly unlikely that it would be there. Lost items are sent to central places (there is one at Bristol Temple Meads). I once recovered a season ticket I left on the train by working out what time it came back through my station on its return to London (2 1/2 hours later), boarding, and asking if they had it. Which they did! But I guess you are too late for that.

 

[saismee]

I think it's highly unlikely that it would be there. Lost items are sent to central places (there is one at Bristol Temple Meads). I once recovered a season ticket I left on the train by working out what time it came back through my station on its return to London (2 1/2 hours later), boarding, and asking if they had it. Which they did! But I guess you are too late for that.

Better to ask, they may know where it went next.
Best of luck OP.

 

[SouthernGrebe]

I think it's highly unlikely that it would be there. Lost items are sent to central places (there is one at Bristol Temple Meads). I once recovered a season ticket I left on the train by working out what time it came back through my station on its return to London (2 1/2 hours later), boarding, and asking if they had it. Which they did! But I guess you are too late for that.

Yea it’s unfortunately too late for that; I asked a mate who lives in Malvern if he could check on the train but he was out of town today. So I suppose I’ll have to ask at the nearest depot, which I think might be Worcester? That’s just after a google search, but if anyone knows where lost luggage on the Paddington to Great Malvern Line would end up that would be much appreciated.

 

[LowLevel]

It is most unlikely that lost property would be handed in at Great Malvern Station even if the train terminated there. It would have gone to a hub station or the depot of the finding crew like Worcester Shrub Hill or even Paddington etc.

 

[SouthernGrebe]

It is most unlikely that lost property would be handed in at Great Malvern Station even if the train terminated there. It would have gone to a hub station or the depot of the finding crew like Worcester Shrub Hill or even Paddington etc.

Is there a way of finding out what the hub station for the train would’ve been and contacting them?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Feb 2025 ==

Also, after how long of not being contacted should I just abandon all hope of recovering the bag?

 

[NickBucks]

Too late now but can I suggest for the future you put a luggage tracker in your bag. Not expensive and both Apple and Android versions are available. Then if a loss occurs you will at least know where the missing item is.

 

[SouthernGrebe]

Update; reported on MissingX and nothing back. Went to Great Malvern, Worcester Shrub Hill, and Bristol Temple Mead, and none had it. I assume that’s that then? Or should I report lost goods as potentially stolen to British Transport Police?

 

[Haywain]

Update; reported on MissingX and nothing back. Went to Great Malvern, Worcester Shrub Hill, and Bristol Temple Mead, and none had it. I assume that’s that then? Or should I report lost goods as potentially stolen to British Transport Police?

You should contact GWR directly about lost property (details here). If required for insurance purposes you should also report the loss to the police. Although lost property is usually handled at a central location (Bristol TM in GWR's case) it may take a few days to get there from the 'home' of the train or train crew.

 

[The exile]

You should contact GWR directly about lost property (details here). If required for insurance purposes you should also report the loss to the police. Although lost property is usually handled at a central location (Bristol TM in GWR's case) it may take a few days to get there from the 'home' of the train or train crew.

On both occasions I’ve had to use it, I’ve found the lost property office at Temple Meads very helpful and unbureaucratic. Probably helped that the losses occurred at Temple Meads itself and on a train terminating there.

 

[SouthernGrebe]

On both occasions I’ve had to use it, I’ve found the lost property office at Temple Meads very helpful and unbureaucratic. Probably helped that the losses occurred at Temple Meads itself and on a train terminating there.

Temple Mead have been helpful, it just happens not to be there.

You should contact GWR directly about lost property (details here). If required for insurance purposes you should also report the loss to the police. Although lost property is usually handled at a central location (Bristol TM in GWR's case) it may take a few days to get there from the 'home' of the train or train crew.

How long post loss should I assume it’s irretrievably lost? I’ve confirmed with Paddington, Bristol, Worcester, and Great Malvern they don’t have it, I only see the sole slim chance I have being the police atm.

 

[The exile]

Is it worth getting in contact with West Midlands Railway as well. If for some reason it was handed in at Worcester it might have got to them in error.

 

[SouthernGrebe]

Is it worth getting in contact with West Midlands Railway as well. If for some reason it was handed in at Worcester it might have got to them in error.

Thanks for the advice. Since Great Malvern is a West Midlands station I’d sent the Missingx report to West Midlands as well, and today visited Worcester to see if they had it. No luck I’m afraid

 

[Revaulx]

I left my coat on the luggage rack of the middle coach of 2U35 (185148 according to RTT) when I got off at Wakefield Kirkgate at 0914 this morning.

Trans Pennine have directed me to LNER as the train terminated at York. That seems to have taken me to missingx.com, which reports that they haven’t got it. Should I just try all the places where Trans Pennine terminate? What happens if it’s found at a depot (Ardwick?)?

A few years ago I left my wallet on a westbound TP from Leeds to Huddersfield (while not altogether sober) and was provided with a number to ring. It was quickly hunted down at Manchester and I got it back in no time. The new “system” seems to be a lot less user-friendly.

 

[30907]

I left my coat on the luggage rack of the middle coach of 2U35 (185148 according to RTT) when I got off at Wakefield Kirkgate at 0914 this morning.

Trans Pennine have directed me to LNER as the train terminated at York. That seems to have taken me to missingx.com, which reports that they haven’t got it. Should I just try all the places where Trans Pennine terminate? What happens if it’s found at a depot (Ardwick?)?

It's likely the unit is shuttling between Piccadilly and York all day, so that reduces the possibilities somewhat

 

[Revaulx]

It's likely the unit is shuttling between Piccadilly and York all day, so that reduces the possibilities somewhat

True! I’ll try to contact Picc…