Effect of strike on Tuesday 26 May?

[kentman]

There is some advice on NRE http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/97695.aspx

Basically you can travel the day before or after on like services or a full refund. For Season Ticket's you will be entitled to compensation.

TOC's may have additional local arrangements

 

[Andyh82]

If the emergency timetable is anything like the bus strike in Bradford, some will run but nobody will use them as nobody will have known what will run and where or when, so will have made alternative arrangements.

I had a feeling they would do a one day strike straddling two days as this way trains will be disrupted from probably around 3pm Monday to 7pm Tuesday and then probably all Tuesday evening as well.

 

[trainophile]

Been in meetings in Liverpool today. The strike happens to coincide with a special couple of days where they are (were) expecting more than a million people to descend on the city for the 175 years Cunard ships celebration (all three flagships congregating on the Mersey, fireworks, the lot). These big weekends are becoming a bit of a thing for them, and a big part of getting the city back in the groove.

Not impressed, unhappy, cheesed off, fuming and furious... would be some of the impressions I came away with. Probably not the brightest idea to p off people in one of the most socialist cities in the country...in my opinion!

Especially given the rather odd timings of the strike. Many thousands of visitors risk becoming stranded in Liverpool, having been able to get there but then finding their return trains are not running.

Including us except we won't go if there's any doubt.

 

[carriageline]

Then we have to hope that NR offers a deal that will be accepted. Trust me, it really won't be hard!

 

[Camden]

except we won't go if there's any doubt.

Well this is the most likely outcome for most I think - refunds all round and far fewer visitors to the city.

Given there's two people on this one page alone planning on going, I think gives a clue just as to how many people stand to miss out. If it's any consolation (and of course it isn't), your would-be-hosts are many times more gutted at the prospect of you not being able to make it!

 

[trainophile]

It's also the start of half term week, so loads of families are going to have to revise their plans.

 

[melena]

Well this is the most likely outcome for most I think - refunds all round and far fewer visitors to the city.

Given there's two people on this one page alone planning on going, I think gives a clue just as to how many people stand to miss out. If it's any consolation (and of course it isn't), your would-be-hosts are many times more gutted at the prospect of you not being able to make it!

I'm also going to the 3 queens event, booked from Crewe to Liverpool with a friend, we're unsure whether to cancel too or risk overloaded trains to just go straight there get pictures then get back to crewe before 5.

 

[Ianigsy]

Well, I was planning to go to Liverpool so I've just booked return coach tickets from Leeds for the Friday and Monday. I'd say it's the rail industry's loss, but seeing as the winners are likely to be National Express and Arriva (who run my parents' local buses), perhaps not!

I would guess that most offices will be running at about 75% of staff on the Tuesday anyway with it being half term and the day after the bank holiday. The problems come when half the people who can't get the train drive and the other half all go for the same bus, not really knowing the timetable and filling them up so the regular punters can't get on!

 

[Camden]

If you're in Crewe then I'd suggest drive, if you can. If you don't fancy driving all the way, perhaps to Chester, Runcorn, or Warrington and then bus (which should be regular to/from those places)?

 

[Kite159]

Three of us have Advance tickets to go to Liverpool for the three Queens event, coming back via Chester from where we depart at 1619, arriving Hereford 1812. We should be between Gobowen and Shrewsbury on the stroke of 1700!

Are our six tickets, totalling about £80, just to be wasted then? Obviously we won't travel up if we're not going to be able to get back.

I'm meant to be heading to the Three Queens event on a Pathfinder tour, which I'm half expecting to get cancelled if the strike isn't called off.

 

[Starmill]

There won't be replacement transport provided.

How on earth can you possibly know that?

Indeed, providing replacement transport would be a good way for TOCs to avoid offering blanket refunds for these days - although it seems some will be doing that anyway as per the VT East Coast announcement.

 

[Camden]

If it is the case that the TOCs receive compensation for the NR strike (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/...-in-line-for-compensation-if-strike-hits.html), and I don't know if this is the case, then we will have to wait and see what efforts are made. Especially those companies that also operate buses!

"Replacement" transport or not, the bustitution is massively unpopular with people only using it when they are forced to. For Liverpool's event, I would suspect most people will just cancel and get their refund. I fail to see how bustitutions could cope anyway, given that the trains themselves inevitably wouldn't.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/train-chaos-thousands-forced-wait-7515332

They were expecting more people for this upcoming event.

 

[DelayRepay]

I strongly believe a deal will be done in the next few days.

Running buses isn't an option - it's a bank holiday weekend so where on earth would they find sufficient buses from? National Express sent an email last night promoting their coaches - I imagine they'll be putting extras on using whatever vehicles they can get hold of!

 

[Qwerty133]

I strongly believe a deal will be done in the next few days.

Running buses isn't an option - it's a bank holiday weekend so where on earth would they find sufficient buses from? National Express sent an email last night promoting their coaches - I imagine they'll be putting extras on using whatever vehicles they can get hold of!

it's half term so they'd be plenty of buses available, which normally do school work, whether they could find enough willing drivers is another matter

 

[General Zod]

There is some advice on NRE http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/97695.aspx

Basically you can travel the day before or after on like services or a full refund. For Season Ticket's you will be entitled to compensation.

TOC's may have additional local arrangements

Alas travelling the day before the Bank Holiday Monday ie Sunday 24th is going to be a nightmare for some as swathes of Chiltern and WCML will be closed due to engineering works.

 

[TUC]

You won't get a refund as strike action is seen as force majeure.
.

A strike is not force majure. Force majure is an uncontrollable event. This is far from that.

 

[dvboy]

Midland Metro will be busy on Tues 27th (looks like my best option too)

 

[najaB]

You won't get a refund as strike action is seen as force majeure.

According to the NRCoC, as far as refunds are concerned:

44. Circumstances that are within a Train Company’s control
For the purposes of Conditions 42, 43 and 52, circumstances that are within a Train Company’s control include the negligent or wilful acts or omission of its, or a Rail Service Company’s, staff or agents.

45. Circumstances that are not within a Train Company’s control
For the purposes of Conditions 42, 43 and 52, circumstances that are not within a Train Company’s control include:

• acts or threats of vandalism or terrorism;
• suicides or accidents involving trespassers;
• gas leaks or fires in lineside buildings not caused by a Train Company or a Rail Service Company or any of their staff or agents;
• line closures at the request of the police or emergency services;
• exceptionally severe weather conditions;
• riots or civil commotion; and
• fire, mechanical or electrical failure or a defect (except where this is caused by a Train Company or Rail Service Company or their staff or agents, or as a result of the condition of a Train Company’s trains).

So as long as the strike doesn't turn violent passengers are eligible for refunds.

 

[General Zod]

Because of so many engineering works on Sun 24th , what are the chances of being allowed to use tickets dated Mon 25th on the Saturday (23rd) ? I have a journey booked to Oban which I cannot complete on the Sunday but could just about make it on the Saturday.

 

[Robertj21a]

Been in meetings in Liverpool today. The strike happens to coincide with a special couple of days where they are (were) expecting more than a million people to descend on the city for the 175 years Cunard ships celebration (all three flagships congregating on the Mersey, fireworks, the lot). These big weekends are becoming a bit of a thing for them, and a big part of getting the city back in the groove.

Not impressed, unhappy, cheesed off, fuming and furious... would be some of the impressions I came away with. Probably not the brightest idea to p off people in one of the most socialist cities in the country...in my opinion!

You seem to have overlooked the simple fact that Unions choose days and times to create the maximum inconvenience to the travelling public - and then apologise for it being 'absolutely unavoidable.......'

 

[A-driver]

You seem to have overlooked the simple fact that Unions choose days and times to create the maximum inconvenience to the travelling public - and then apologise for it being 'absolutely unavoidable.......'

Unions have no gripe with the travelling public although disrupting then is almost always unavoidable. Unions try to create maximum disruption on the employer.

 

[Deerfold]

You seem to have overlooked the simple fact that Unions choose days and times to create the maximum inconvenience to the travelling public - and then apologise for it being 'absolutely unavoidable.......'

Surely it would cause more inconvenience across 2 working days? If the Monday were busier than a normal Monday, why do some train companies only offer a Sunday service? Although many offer a normal service I suspect only a handful are busier than a normal Monday across the whole day.

 

[DelayRepay]

Surely it would cause more inconvenience across 2 working days? If the Monday were busier than a normal Monday, why do some train companies only offer a Sunday service? Although many offer a normal service I suspect only a handful are busier than a normal Monday across the whole day.

Over two working days, it would probably inconvenience fewer people in total. The people inconvenienced on one working day would be the same as another, ie commuters. By striking on a Bank Holiday and a working day, they inconvenience both commuters and occasional leisure travellers.

I still hold the view that this will be resolved at ACAS and we will see a normal service operate next week.

 

[Class 170101]

There won't be replacement transport provided.

The last EMT strike sasw them getting ticket acceptance on Stagecoach buses and running some buses on other routes. They were actually one of the better operators in this respect. Most pack up and go home.

 

[Deerfold]

Over two working days, it would probably inconvenience fewer people in total. The people inconvenienced on one working day would be the same as another, ie commuters. By striking on a Bank Holiday and a working day, they inconvenience both commuters and occasional leisure travellers.

I didn't claim it would affect more people. I said it would cause more inconvenience, contrary to Robertj21a's claim.

 

[455driver]

The last EMT strike sasw them getting ticket acceptance on Stagecoach buses and running some buses on other routes. They were actually one of the better operators in this respect. Most pack up and go home.

That was a strike at the TOC concerned, this is NR signallers, do you know the signal boxes will be closed and do the TOC will be in lumber or will the boxes be open with management in charge, will the boxes be open as normal because the staff are not in the RMT or TSSA and decide to work?

There is a long way to go before next Monday and I reckon the support for the strike will focus the minds at NR who will come back with a sensible offer!

 

[Jonny]

Does anyone else remember this?

[youtube]z6BxSbx1Fm0[/youtube]

It makes for ^interesting^ viewing now that there is the possibility of a national shutdown.

 

[Class 170101]

That was a strike at the TOC concerned, this is NR signallers, do you know the signal boxes will be closed and do the TOC will be in lumber or will the boxes be open with management in charge, will the boxes be open as normal because the staff are not in the RMT or TSSA and decide to work?

I would suggest it will be more difficult for mangement to cover a manual box compared to a PSB or IECC. Never mind justifying it.

I remember being involved in the response to a signallers strike and the IECC area covered didn't even provide cover all the workstations within the IECC concerned.

 

[FlippyFF]

If this strike goes ahead, will HS1 be affected too? IIRC is it managed by a different NR subsidiary?

TIA

Simon

 

[Goldfish62]

You won't get a refund as strike action is seen as force majeure.

Of course there'll be a refund. What on earth made you think otherwise? The railways still have a small vestige of customer service left and in any case it's the railway's fault for not providing a service, no one else's.

From the SWT website:

"If you already have a ticket valid for travel on any of the days potentially affected by the planned industrial action and no longer wish to travel, the retailer that sold you your ticket will provide you with a full refund. Alternatively you can exchange it for another ticket (once you've paid any difference in price). If you want to obtain a refund or exchange your ticket please ask the retailer from whom you purchased your ticket.
If you have a Season Ticket you will be entitled to compensation. As these arrangements vary by train company, please check with your train company on the compensation you will be entitled to."