Do I *have* to catch the next available train?

[Pumperkin]

Hi,

I have an upcoming journey on Sat 26th from Wolverhampton -> Manchester and back (day trip).

I have just received an email from trainsplit advising the return I was booked on has now been cancelled.

It advises me to catch the next available train - however I am wondering whether I can actually get the one after that? The next train involves a 10 minute change at Crewe (involves packing up laptop) whereas the 21:05 is straight through.

Whichever one I need to take, am I able to make a reservation on the new train? The tickets purchased are yet to be collected but are comprised of a WOL-Stafford return then singles Stafford-MAN and back. I presume whichever train I get needs to stop at Stafford, but I don't think this is a problem as they probably all do. How would I make the reservation if this is possible?

 

[gray1404]

Would you be able to post your original itinerary and also a list of the tickets you have. Particularly what the route is the tickets in the route field

 

[Watershed]

I have just received an email from trainsplit advising the return I was booked on has now been cancelled.

This is probably due to XC's strike timetable being enacted. Currently I understand the strike is suspended, due to a legal challenge by XC. But it may already be too late to reinstate the previous timetable.

It advises me to catch the next available train - however I am wondering whether I can actually get the one after that? The next train involves a 10 minute change at Crewe (involves packing up laptop) whereas the 21:05 is straight through.

It depends on which tickets you hold. Are they all walk-up (i.e. flexible) tickets? If so, yes you can take any train you like that calls at your split point of Stafford (which includes all XC services), before or after your booked train. If they're Advance tickets then you would likely be limited to catching the previous or subsequent train of the originally booked operator.

Whichever one I need to take, am I able to make a reservation on the new train?

Yes, if they're available. You can obtain them through a ticket office or by contacting the operator in question. I often find it easiest to do so through Twitter for a quick response.

 

[Pumperkin]

Thanks for the replies.

The return bit is a standard ticket but the singles Stafford - Manchester are Advance tickets. I will give Twitter a go

 

[Watershed]

Thanks for the replies.

The return bit is a standard ticket but the singles Stafford - Manchester are Advance tickets. I will give Twitter a go

Those Advances are routed XC only, so you can take the preceding or following XC service. To take any other service you would need to have permission.

 

[Pumperkin]

Ahh that actually works in my favour as the next XC is the one I want, whereas the 3 in between are different TOCs.

Would you suggest I visit the ticket office at Wolverhampton once I have the tickets printed out on the machine to get them validated? Is it likely that reservations will still be available on the day or should I sort it out before?

 

[miklcct]

Ahh that actually works in my favour as the next XC is the one I want, whereas the 3 in between are different TOCs.

Would you suggest I visit the ticket office at Wolverhampton once I have the tickets printed out on the machine to get them validated? Is it likely that reservations will still be available on the day or should I sort it out before?

Technically you can just walk on the train using the ticket without a reservation so it's not essential, as you are taking the next "available" service according to your ticket routing which is a stated right when your train is cancelled.

 

[Watershed]

Ahh that actually works in my favour as the next XC is the one I want, whereas the 3 in between are different TOCs.

Would you suggest I visit the ticket office at Wolverhampton once I have the tickets printed out on the machine to get them validated? Is it likely that reservations will still be available on the day or should I sort it out before?

It's probably easiest to contact XC on Twitter to get new reservations. Though they may no longer be open on "strike" timetable days, to put people off travelling.

Whether the ticket office staff at Wolverhampton would be able to give you a reservation would depend on the system they have, and how XC have their reservations set up. In all cases, reservations would not be available closer than 15 minutes prior to departure.

 

[gray1404]

The OP should check what, if any, ticket acceptance is in place for XC ticket holders on the day in question that might enable to them complete their journey quicker.

Also, and I know this may be something of a moot point given the recent changes to the NRCCoT, they may be entitled to delay repay depending on their actual arrival time at their final destination if they are 15 or more minutes late against their original booked itinerary.

 

[Pumperkin]

The OP should check what, if any, ticket acceptance is in place for XC ticket holders on the day in question that might enable to them complete their journey quicker.

Also, and I know this may be something of a moot point given the recent changes to the NRCCoT, they may be entitled to delay repay depending on their actual arrival time at their final destination if they are 15 or more minutes late against their original booked itinerary.

Hi Gray thanks for the heads up about delay repay.

I think I will probably leave that if I am able to get the next direct service and they would have ticket acceptance for the earlier ones - will bear in mind if no ticket acceptance in place though as will end up roughly an hour later than planned (here's hoping it's 1h and not 58m!)

 

[gray1404]

Delay repay will be based on your actual arrival time vs the original arrival time in your itinerary. However if you purposely delay yourself to catch the next direct train rather than an earlier train then delay repay may be paid out based on the time you could have got there.

Of course this all depends what ticket acceptance if any is in place, we don't know yet, and also what actually happens on the day. Needless to say it sounds like he will be entitled to something.

Definitely keep hold of the itinerary you were provided with when you booked with Train Split and also the confirmation from them about your cancelled train. This is really good evidence of contract in case XC try to get out of paying your delay repay entitlement.