Delay repay and alternative routes

[Amy Worrall]

This is a somewhat hypothetical question but I'm interested nontheless.

Yesterday I was sat on the 17.43 service Euston-Coventry. However, as I sat down, we had an announcement that there was a lineside fire and all services were suspended.

About 15 minutes later, we had another announcement saying that services would be suspended for over an hour, possibly longer, and that ticket acceptance was on Chiltern services and our best bet was to head to Marylebone, which I did.

I got to Coventry at about 20:30, about 1h45 late. However, the train I'd been sat on at Euston actually got to Coventry at 19:50, or just over an hour late.

For delay repay purposes, would I be able to take the time I actually arrived into Coventry (having gone via Marylebone and Banbury)? (It's hypothetical in this case, because both are over an hour and less than two hours. But I'm interested in the theory.)

Would it make a difference if the train manager on the Virgin train hadn't suggested we head to Marylebone, and I'd just gone there on my own initiative? My ticket is valid via that route anyway, regardless of ticket acceptance.

 

[najaB]

For delay repay purposes, would I be able to take the time I actually arrived into Coventry (having gone via Marylebone and Banbury)? (It's hypothetical in this case, because both are over an hour and less than two hours. But I'm interested in the theory.)

Delay Repay is based on the actual delay you experienced, not the delay to the train. If you acted on the advice of the Train Manager then you could claim for the entire delay.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Don't use the online Delay Repay form, make sure you email them explaining exactly what happened. But yes, it is based on the delay that you experienced, not the delay to a specific train. If you took an advertised alternative route then that's fine.

In reality, if both delays are between 1h and 2h then the compensation will be the same.