After many years of membership, I find myself in the need of asking the forum's advice on what, if anything to claim in the situation!
On Wednesday, I was travelling from Chatham (CTM) to Gravesend (GRV) on SouthEastern 1C53 (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:W12103/2025-03-26). Regular walk-up, ticket-office purchased Off-Peak Day return at £7.30.
Just before arrival at Rochester, we were halted, then told we'd be routed into platform 3 as there was a points issue at Springhead, meaning with a Thameslink train in front of us with the points against it, they couldn't guarantee to travel beyond. London passengers advised to swap to Victoria, Strood to walk, Gravesend, sort-of-umm-wait-and-see. (Excellent) conductor phoned control to ask about ticket acceptance for local buses, to which the answer was no, but discussion at that point was rail replacement. With a regular bus in five minutes, I "abandoned" the train journey and headed outside. Classically, as you can see from RTT, at almost the very moment the bus came, the train continued, as the Thameslink service in front (1710 ex Chatham) was terminated at Gravesend (thus allowing 1C53 to continue, as the points were favourable towards Ebbsfleet).
So:
1. I "abandoned" my outward journey by train, based on the reasonable expectation it would be faster by public bus on the information available at the time, but used the ticket for the return part.
2. I naturally had to pay a fare on the bus, albeit at my own instigation.
3. Had I waited on the train (but with no idea of how long for), I would have been able to claim 15 minutes of delay repay
4. I actually ended up ca. 45 minutes later (but not the railway's fault, as the bus is naturally a longer journey).
I'm trying to work out whether there is any point claiming for anything.. delay repay would be 91p, which seems almost more hassle than it's worth given it won't cover the bus fare (£3), but equally, it was my own choice to abandon the journey, and only in one direction. However, with an alternative option available, has it not been "easily fixed", I could have been waiting an hour or more for rail replacement buses to be mobilised.
Advice welcomed!
On Wednesday, I was travelling from Chatham (CTM) to Gravesend (GRV) on SouthEastern 1C53 (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:W12103/2025-03-26). Regular walk-up, ticket-office purchased Off-Peak Day return at £7.30.
Just before arrival at Rochester, we were halted, then told we'd be routed into platform 3 as there was a points issue at Springhead, meaning with a Thameslink train in front of us with the points against it, they couldn't guarantee to travel beyond. London passengers advised to swap to Victoria, Strood to walk, Gravesend, sort-of-umm-wait-and-see. (Excellent) conductor phoned control to ask about ticket acceptance for local buses, to which the answer was no, but discussion at that point was rail replacement. With a regular bus in five minutes, I "abandoned" the train journey and headed outside. Classically, as you can see from RTT, at almost the very moment the bus came, the train continued, as the Thameslink service in front (1710 ex Chatham) was terminated at Gravesend (thus allowing 1C53 to continue, as the points were favourable towards Ebbsfleet).
So:
1. I "abandoned" my outward journey by train, based on the reasonable expectation it would be faster by public bus on the information available at the time, but used the ticket for the return part.
2. I naturally had to pay a fare on the bus, albeit at my own instigation.
3. Had I waited on the train (but with no idea of how long for), I would have been able to claim 15 minutes of delay repay
4. I actually ended up ca. 45 minutes later (but not the railway's fault, as the bus is naturally a longer journey).
I'm trying to work out whether there is any point claiming for anything.. delay repay would be 91p, which seems almost more hassle than it's worth given it won't cover the bus fare (£3), but equally, it was my own choice to abandon the journey, and only in one direction. However, with an alternative option available, has it not been "easily fixed", I could have been waiting an hour or more for rail replacement buses to be mobilised.
Advice welcomed!