Leeds/York to Homerton Hospital - Take 2.

[Statto]

Did you manage to get home them?

I hope you did. It just gets on my nerves when things out of my control gets in the way to hamper the day, like a train delay, but that's life, I suppose. It makes me wish I was living near London.

Was it possible for you to get an earlier train?

Would you be able to get a taxi instead?

Should have been able to make the bus, Realtime Trains has the train arriving in 22.31, 10 late, the X99 from Infirmary Street departed 22.45, from the train at Leeds Station to Infirmary Street is doable in less than 10 minutes.

 

[Joe Paxton]

And actually, I don't find those comments helpful in the slightest. Do you really think I'm bothered what you think of my planning at this very moment? Or is it just another opportunity for someone to make a dig at someone else?

I apologise for the timing of my earlier comment, which wasn't at all helpful in that moment.

No malice was intended. I guess all I was really thinking was that it's always good to have a 'plan B', even if all that consists of is being prepared to shell out for a taxi if things go pear shaped.

I understand and appreciate the annoyance and inconvenience of a late running train which results in the last bus of the night being missed, I really do!

I hope you got back home ok without too much hassle.

 

[Paul180]

What happens it you buy a ticket with Plusbus are the TOC obliged to provide you with a taxi if you miss the last bus because your train is late and it is there fault?

 

[plymothian]

Really?
Your contract with the rail company is to get you from station to station, and no further than that. The part after the station is nothing to do with them.

That is what you would reasonably expect, but as the railways now fall under the CRA, they must with 'reasonable care and skill' provide the service you are buying or be liable to consequential losses. And the government specifically has been said that railways cannot shirk their responsibility for consequential losses despite that the NRCoT says.

Another forum has been discussing scenarios over this - for example missing flights/business(wo)men missing meetings - and the potential consequential loss running to £millions.

The consequential loss of the OP's train not arriving to the time specified in the timetable is a missed bus, and additional expense of alternative transport.

This is why there needs to be a test case. The terms of the CRA and how it applies specifically to rail travel and where it ends are too woolly at the moment, and the reasonable expectation of what it means is different for different people.

 

[Hadders]

What happens it you buy a ticket with Plusbus are the TOC obliged to provide you with a taxi if you miss the last bus because your train is late and it is there fault?

There's no obligation for the rail industry to provide a taxi if using a plusbus ticket.

 

[Ron Hale]

In the past delays to Transpennine trains into Doncaster which meant I missed my last bus home invariably meant that they provided me with a taxi home.

 

[Darandio]

Should have been able to make the bus, Realtime Trains has the train arriving in 22.31, 10 late, the X99 from Infirmary Street departed 22.45, from the train at Leeds Station to Infirmary Street is doable in less than 10 minutes.

However, the OP had already stated they weren't in great condition following a hospital visit and being brisk wasn't really an option.

 

[NickBucks]

After all this I just hope the bus was not cancelled !

 

[MichaelAMW]

And actually, I don't find those comments helpful in the slightest. Do you really think I'm bothered what you think of my planning at this very moment? Or is it just another opportunity for someone to make a dig at someone else?

I hope you managed to get back home without too much difficulty but I think you were forgetting last night why you started the thread. You left Kings Cross 11 minutes late and you anticipated that this would mean you missed your bus in Leeds, so you asked whether VTEC should get you all the way home via a (guess) £30 taxi ride. People weren't criticising your plannng as such or trying to be mean, as I think it was recognised that you had constraints with your hospital visit in London, but they were trying to point out that VTEC really couldn't be expected to step in when you had left a margin in Leeds of no more than 10 minutes.

 

[MichaelAMW]

That is what you would reasonably expect, but as the railways now fall under the CRA, they must with 'reasonable care and skill' provide the service you are buying or be liable to consequential losses. And the government specifically has been said that railways cannot shirk their responsibility for consequential losses despite that the NRCoT says.

Another forum has been discussing scenarios over this - for example missing flights/business(wo)men missing meetings - and the potential consequential loss running to £millions.

The consequential loss of the OP's train not arriving to the time specified in the timetable is a missed bus, and additional expense of alternative transport.

This is why there needs to be a test case. The terms of the CRA and how it applies specifically to rail travel and where it ends are too woolly at the moment, and the reasonable expectation of what it means is different for different people.

I find what you say here interesting. Presumably the "test case" needs to establish at what point the Railway has failed to meet its responsibilities. In the case of the OP here and their train, they arrived in Leeds 10 minutes late, i.e. "on time" (just...) in terms of the performance target for long-distance trains. Would that be a delay for which consequent loss would be payable?

 

[northwichcat]

There's no obligation for the rail industry to provide a taxi if using a plusbus ticket.

Indeed. Plusbus is a reduced price day ticket for bus services in the area only available to rail customers, not a ticket to get you to a specific place. I would hope if a train was severely delayed and you arrived after all bus routes had finished operating for the day, that you would be able to get a refund on the Plusbus fare but I can't see anything above that being offered.

 

[northwichcat]

Perhaps they had no option but to use the train they are on and rely on it being on time.

Indeed. I certainly wouldn't think it would be responsible to walk out of a job interview early to catch an earlier train or to force your way to the front of a queue at border control in an attempt to catch an earlier train.

 

[J-2739]

Should have been able to make the bus, Realtime Trains has the train arriving in 22.31, 10 late, the X99 from Infirmary Street departed 22.45, from the train at Leeds Station to Infirmary Street is doable in less than 10 minutes.

However, the OP had already stated they weren't in great condition following a hospital visit and being brisk wasn't really an option.

If only the FreeCityBus still existed, things would have been so much easier...

 

[Bayum]

I hope you managed to get back home without too much difficulty but I think you were forgetting last night why you started the thread. You left Kings Cross 11 minutes late and you anticipated that this would mean you missed your bus in Leeds, so you asked whether VTEC should get you all the way home via a (guess) £30 taxi ride. People weren't criticising your plannng as such or trying to be mean, as I think it was recognised that you had constraints with your hospital visit in London, but they were trying to point out that VTEC really couldn't be expected to step in when you had left a margin in Leeds of no more than 10 minutes.

I think you'll do me that a thing some people were criticising my planning, as stated, and apologised for quite clearly. If the rest of the thread he been followed, you'll have recognised that the train has arrived in Leeds at the timetabled time with at least a 95% reliability ratio over the last few weeks. The train was originally due to get me in with a 20 minute period between train and bus, so clearly when the train was delayed for whatever reason, this was cut in half. I'd actually argue that 20 minutes is more than enough time for anyone, including me who walks at a particularly slow speed.

As it happens, the bus was kind enough to stop for me and another passenger on Park Row. The driver of the train was certainly very forceful, braking very harshly very late and managed to reduce the delay by a few minutes. Padding came into play between Donny and Leeds. Suffered today, thus my late response, but thank you to those who gave me help!

 

[Zoidberg]

...

As it happens, the bus was kind enough to stop for me and another passenger on Park Row.

...

Good to hear that you managed to catch your bus. I bet there was a big sigh of relief when the driver stopped for you.

 

[theblackwatch]

If people look at the original query, they will see that Bayum was asking where he stood, rather than demanding that VTEC get him home - replies talking about consumer rights or irresponsibility were not helpful in dealing with the situation. I'm glad it all worked out in the end.

As mentioned by one poster, one thing worth considering in the future (and this applies to anyone with a tight connection for a reasonable length bus journey) is, if it is possible, to catch a taxi to a point/bus stop where it is likely to arrive at before the bus, then board the bus there.

 

[Bayum]

If people look at the original query, they will see that Bayum was asking where he stood, rather than demanding that VTEC get him home - replies talking about consumer rights or irresponsibility were not helpful in dealing with the situation. I'm glad it all worked out in the end.

As mentioned by one poster, one thing worth considering in the future (and this applies to anyone with a tight connection for a reasonable length bus journey) is, if it is possible, to catch a taxi to a point/bus stop where it is likely to arrive at before the bus, then board the bus there.

In all honesty I was so dosed up on oramorph and tramadol that this thought hadn't even crossed my mind. I didn't even consider using a taxi to get me to the bus stop, let alone to chase the bus home.

 

[Bayum]

TAKE 2.

If a mod. would edit the title with the 'take 2' that would be fantastic.

I've had a surgery date for the 29th. The letter says my 'surgery time' is 12:00. I'm assuming this means I need to be there for 7am as you would in Leeds for same day elective surgery. I phoned the specialist nurse who spoke to anaesthetists who spoke to consultants etc etc and they are all pretty sure I'm going to be staying overnight. My issue now arises with the ticket type. Is there such a ticket for me to use to have the flexibility of coming down Friday, hospital Saturday, discharge Sunday, London Sunday day, home Monday? Because I've had a general anaesthetic, they're pretty cautious about letting me leave the hospital unaccompanied, even if it's the day after surgery. My sister was planning on coming down for the day/evening, so if I could persuade to do the same thing but return on Monday, that would be great.

 

[30907]

Sounds like a case for a Super Offpeak to me. Or online I think you can do Advance out and flexible return, but that's assuming you can commit outwards.

 

[Bayum]

Sounds like a case for a Super Offpeak to me. Or online I think you can do Advance out and flexible return, but that's assuming you can commit outwards.

The only commitment I can make is that I'm looking at Monday or later to travel home. Would a super offpeak of flexible return work for that?

 

[northwichcat]

TAKE 2.

If a mod. would edit the title with the 'take 2' that would be fantastic.

As you created the thread you're able to do that yourself. Just click the edit post button under your first post in the thread.

 

[30907]

The only commitment I can make is that I'm looking at Monday or later to travel home. Would a super offpeak of flexible return work for that?

If it's "Monday or later" then an online Offpeak Single is only valid one day ( you buy it at the same time as your outward Advance) so that wouldn't be any good.
To get a choice of day on the return you would need to book the Super Offpeak Return which is £106.20 without Railcard. Towards London you must travel 0915 or later, return is ok 0935-1435 or from 1905.
Obviously Advances both way would be the cheapest, reckon on around £50 if you book now for late July.

 

[Bayum]

As you created the thread you're able to do that yourself. Just click the edit post button under your first post in the thread.

Yeah I've done that; there's no option to change the title from what I can see. The only 'edit' I'm allowed to make is that of the forum text and to add a reason for the edit.

If it's "Monday or later" then an online Offpeak Single is only valid one day ( you buy it at the same time as your outward Advance) so that wouldn't be any good.
To get a choice of day on the return you would need to book the Super Offpeak Return which is £106.20 without Railcard. Towards London you must travel 0915 or later, return is ok 0935-1435 or from 1905.
Obviously Advances both way would be the cheapest, reckon on around £50 if you book now for late July.

Thanks. I'll have to have a look. Heck, I'm sure flying would be the same price... Might have to check that!

Is anyone aware of flying restrictions for non-passport holders?

 

[Martin66]

Is anyone aware of flying restrictions for non-passport holders?

This is on Easyjet's website:

ID for UK domestic flights - what can you take?

If you are flying within the UK you must be able to identify yourself with a form of photographic ID. Here's a list to show you what forms will be accepted at check-in:
A valid passport - an expired passport can be used up to a maximum of five years after expiry
Valid photographic EU or Swiss national identity card
Valid photographic driving licence, provisional or full
Valid armed forces identity card
Valid police warrant card/badge
Valid airport employees security identity pass
CitizenCard
Valid photographic firearm certificate
Valid Government-issued identity card
SMART card
Electoral identity card
Pension Book (the only acceptable form of non-photographic identification)

This is what British Airways advise:

Identification on UK domestic flights

If you are flying solely within the UK, including Northern Ireland, you do not need a passport but we advise that you carry photographic identification with you when travelling, such as your passport or driving licence. This may be requested at certain points in your journey. Children under the age of 16 years do not require identification to travel within the UK.

 

[yorkie]

Yeah I've done that; there's no option to change the title from what I can see. The only 'edit' I'm allowed to make is that of the forum text and to add a reason for the edit.

Edit > Go Advanced will let you change it.

 

[Bayum]

Edit > Go Advanced will let you change it.

Grand!

So I managed to get a first class ticket... If they're putting me under and doing expensive and painful things, I may as well go out in style. I've got the 08xx from Leeds (14? 16? Who knows!) on the Friday morning. What can I expect in terms of food and drink?

 

[yorkie]

On a weekday? A breakfast.

Menu here: https://www.virgintrainseastcoast.com/the-east-coast-experience/first-class/menu/