Last 2 trains of evening cancelled- bike unable to be taken on road transport

[Jamiescott1]

The last 2 trains from maidenhead to marlow were cancelled today. I think they were cancelled before 10pm yesterday as they were not showing on rtt. But assuming they were cancelled on the day or this happens in the future, what should the railway do to get me home with my bicycle or what options should they give me ?

- leave bike in maidenhead and collect tomorrow (taking 2 hours out of my day )

- they should get me home with my bike

- just leave me to fend for myself.

(Coincidently I cycled home, but didn't want to cycle 13km in the dark at 11pm after a 13 hour shift at work)

 

[The exile]

The last 2 trains from maidenhead to marlow were cancelled today. I think they were cancelled before 10pm yesterday as they were not showing on rtt. But assuming they were cancelled on the day or this happens in the future, what should the railway do to get me home with my bicycle or what options should they give me ?

- leave bike in maidenhead and collect tomorrow (taking 2 hours out of my day )

- they should get me home with my bike

- just leave me to fend for myself.

(Coincidently I cycled home, but didn't want to cycle 13km in the dark at 11pm after a 13 hour shift at work)

Fairly certain that the railway is under no obligation to provide for bicycles (whether they should be is another matter) - so in reality it’s 1 or 3.

 

[Tram203]

What, if any, replacement road transport was provided for passengers?

 

[TheTallOne]

They have an obligation to get you home (well, technically to Marlow?) don’t they?

I guess only if it is a short notice cancellation, perhaps only if cancelled on the same day? or maybe if you booked tickets before the cancellations were announced?

I take it you have a bit of a journey to get back from Marlow to home, hence cycling?

Not overly helpful if they get you to Marlow but not the bike. I’d be pushing customer services for a taxi home in that case! E.g. contact t customer services outside of delay repay.

Although as you cycled back, I guess all you can get this time is delay repay? Or a refund for the unused part of the ticket?

 

[74A]

Or have 2 bikes one at each end of your journey

 

[thelongestroad]

I think in this instance GWR can contact FTS and they can enquire with taxi companies if they have any vehicles suitable for/drivers willing to carrying bikes.

 

[Krokodil]

Did you ask the driver if they could accommodate you? Sometimes they're willing to put the bike in the hold.

 

[Watershed]

I would have thought an accessible or larger taxi should be able to fit the bike. It does depend a bit on its size though.

 

[Bill57p9]

I would expect any hired coaches to have sufficient luggage space for a bicycle. I have stashed 3 mountain bikes in the hold of a coach before which had 35 peoples luggage for a week too.

Obviously something like a bus, rather than a coach, and the driver being willing are both different matters.

 

[eoff]

Fairly certain that the railway is under no obligation to provide for bicycles (whether they should be is another matter) - so in reality it’s 1 or 3.

Why not, if you purchase a ticket on the basis of what you are informed is provided in a service and the company offers an alternative that precludes a provision then are you not due some compensation for their failure to provide that service?

 

[Class83]

Why not, if you purchase a ticket on the basis of what you are informed is provided in a service and the company offers an alternative that precludes a provision then are you not due some compensation for their failure to provide that service?

The railway can legitimately change the rules to ban bikes (or luggage exceeding a specified dimension) but currently sells tickets where other than some intercity routes, bikes are carried and reservations are not compulsory, so in the case of disruption need to convey passengers and reasonable luggage or bikes.

 

[Magicake]

This is actually covered specifically in the Conditions of Carriage:

Wherever engineering work is planned in advance we will make you aware of any
need to operate a rail replacement service. The Train Company or Licensed Retailer
from whom you purchased your Ticket(s) will include any extended or altered times
in the timetable information. This information will also be provided at
www.nationalrail.co.uk so that you can make an informed decision about your travel
plans. Where replacement services are operating, we may be unable to accept
some types of luggage, articles, animals and cycles.
27.2 If the replacement is at short notice and you cannot complete your journey because
we are unable to transport your luggage, articles, animals and/or cycles by road
vehicle, and you therefore decided not to travel, you will be entitled to claim a refund
of your Ticket(s) under Conditions 30.1 – 30.4 without any administration charge.

So in short - you can have your ticket refunded if you don't travel, but otherwise fend for yourself.

Although as noted above TOC customer service might offer something more generous

 

[The exile]

This is actually covered specifically in the Conditions of Carriage:


So in short - you can have your ticket refunded if you don't travel, but otherwise fend for yourself.

Although as noted above TOC customer service might offer something more generous

Doesn’t say anything about their responsibility if you decide (or have) to travel, though.

 

[eoff]

Doesn’t say anything about their responsibility if you decide (or have) to travel, though.

Yes, and I'm more thinking about redress under the Consumer Rights Act for not providing a service (which trump any terms and conditions)

 

[renegademaster]

Yes, and I'm more thinking about redress under the Consumer Rights Act for not providing a service (which trump any terms and conditions)

This is an easy way to get bikes banned completely

 

[Watershed]

This is actually covered specifically in the Conditions of Carriage:


So in short - you can have your ticket refunded if you don't travel, but otherwise fend for yourself.

Although as noted above TOC customer service might offer something more generous

This adds to your rights - you can get a full refund even if your ticket would normally be non-refundable or you'd have to pay an admin fee - but it doesn't limit them.

The TOCs are responsible for making alternative arrangements for people as is clearly set out in NRCoT 28.2. There's nothing there that purports to limit that right if you have bikes (and any such attempt would likely not be an enforceable term of the contract).

This is an easy way to get bikes banned completely

Bikes aren't going to be banned on the entire railway because one or two customers pursue recalcitrant TOCs. They are considered part of active travel and millions of pounds have been spent on facilities for bikes on trains and at stations.

 

[renegademaster]

Bikes aren't going to be banned on the entire railway because one or two customers pursue recalcitrant TOCs. They are considered part of active travel and millions of pounds have been spent on facilities for bikes on trains and at stations.

It would make bus replacement substantially more expensive as it would restrict the pool of coaches they can use further.
We've already seen this with disabled toilets. Someone complained trying to get accessible toilets fitted , and TOCs didn't fit new toilets but just locked out the unaccsessiable ones to comply with the law

 

[Watershed]

It would make bus replacement substantially more expensive as it would restrict the pool of coaches they can use further.
We've already seen this with disabled toilets. Someone complained trying to get accessible toilets fitted , and TOCs didn't fit new toilets but just locked out the unaccsessiable ones to comply with the law

Not really comparable because nobody is suggesting that coaches that can take bicycles should be provided every time, just on request (as it should have been for accessible RRBs too in my view, but that's a discussion for another time).

At the end of the day I'm not arguing for a change in the legal position - I'm just explaining what it already is.

 

[noddingdonkey]

Is there any additional duty of care of the passenger holds a cycle reservation?

It feels like there should be additional options to those stated in the opening post.

- Railway provides suitable accommodation for passenger and bike and they continue the following day.

- Railway looks after the bike and puts it on an agreed service under the care of the guard to be collected at the station.

 

[Deepgreen]

I wonder how a bike is regarded when compared with luggage. Even if you have bulky luggage you would expect it to be taken home with you on replacement transport. Of course much of this is ideal world stuff, but it should not be beyond the railway's ability to anticipate the odd bike with late night passengers.

 

[Watershed]

Is there any additional duty of care of the passenger holds a cycle reservation?

It feels like there should be additional options to those stated in the opening post.

- Railway provides suitable accommodation for passenger and bike and they continue the following day.

- Railway looks after the bike and puts it on an agreed service under the care of the guard to be collected at the station.

I think 'duty of care' might be putting it a bit strongly but yes, in essence, if taking a bicycle is allowed based on the published restrictions/reservation requirements, then the railway does ultimately have to get you and your bike to your destination. If it can't provide suitable alternative transport then I don't see why it would be exempt from the usual requirement to provide you with overnight accommodation.

 

[DarloRich]

i regularly hear announcements saying ( to the effect) that rail replacement buses may not be able to carry large luggage or bicycles so there is clearly some expectation management going on somewhere!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Created a specuiative thread on how this should be handled:

Bikes and unexpected disruption - what *should* happen?

With the other thread talking about unexpected RRBs and bicycles, how do we think it should be handled? If coaches are used a bike can often be put underneath, but obviously the vehicle is often a bus where carrying a bike safely/legally isn't possible, and a suitable taxi may not be available...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Krokodil]

i regularly hear announcements saying ( to the effect) that rail replacement buses may not be able to carry large luggage or bicycles so there is clearly some expectation management going on somewhere!

Fine for planned engineering as people have had some notice. Last minute is more of an issue.

 

[Taunton]

As with many things in life, a certain self-reliance is expected. The railway is a fine service but not the backstop social services. What if you had got a puncture? Padlock it at the station, take the train or replacement bus, come back with the tools and fix it tomorrow. Phone a friend/family with a car. Would you turn out for such an event? I would. Ask the replacement bus driver if you can actually bring it on board somehow. That's the start.

 

[Watershed]

As with many things in life, a certain self-reliance is expected. The railway is a fine service but not the backstop social services. What if you had got a puncture? Padlock it at the station, take the train or replacement bus, come back with the tools and fix it tomorrow. Phone a friend/family with a car. Would you turn out for such an event? I would. Ask the replacement bus driver if you can actually bring it on board somehow. That's the start.

It's hardly self-reliance to expect the railway to uphold its end of the bargain: if it agrees to carry bikes, it can't renege on that once you have bought your ticket.