Northern delay repay

[trainophile]

Today I set off from Carlisle on the 0938, heading to Whitehaven. However there was track damage discovered, so we were held at Wigton for about an hour and a half, then had to change onto another train at Workington that was also delayed, finally arriving at something like 1244, instead of the scheduled 1048, so just short of the 120 minutes for double compensation.

I dashed around Whitehaven instead of having a leisurely few hours, having decided to go back on the 1356 (original intention had been the 1310). However, when I got back to the station I found that the 1356 was cancelled and the next one was 1454, which I am now on.

They dished out delay repay forms at Workington, and I am tempted to go for the free tickets to anywhere on their network option. However, my ticket was an off peak day return with railcard and only cost me £6.40!

Question is, would I be entitled to the free tickets option, secondly is it literally from anywhere to anywhere on their route map, and thirdly as I was effectively delayed on both legs, even though I can't prove I intended to get the 1356 back, should I fill in two forms, one for each direction?

 

[BigCj34]

Presumably, given that there's no way to prove you were there for the 1356 train I would imagine your word of mouth will suffice. It's not as if you would've known the 1356 train was cancelled if you turned up for the 1454 train, unless another passenger told you on the way. You should be fine for filling out the two forms.

Also I would imagine free tickets on the network means just that, it just has to be on a Northern train but you could go from Carlisle to Durham for instance. Can you get free tickets AND claim your ticket cost back? Also who said you're entitled to the free ticket?

 

[trainophile]

Presumably, given that there's no way to prove you were there for the 1356 train I would imagine your word of mouth will suffice. It's not as if you would've known the 1356 train was cancelled if you turned up for the 1454 train, unless another passenger told you on the way. You should be fine for filling out the two forms.

Also I would imagine free tickets on the network means just that, it just has to be on a Northern train but you could go from Carlisle to Durham for instance. Can you get free tickets AND claim your ticket cost back? Also who said you're entitled to the free ticket?

It says so on the form. Choice of either RTVs, a cheque, or free tickets. You have to X the box for which you want. No idea how the free tickets option is processed, would be interesting to know.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

....No idea how the free tickets option is processed, would be interesting to know.

You get sent a coupon with spaces to write an origin, a destination and date (other parts should already be completed, but may not be) which you use as a ticket.

 

[Merseysider]

They dished out delay repay forms at Workington, and I am tempted to go for the free tickets to anywhere on their network option. However, my ticket was an off peak day return with railcard and only cost me £6.40!

The price you paid doesn't matter - I got one for an hour's delay on a £1.45 ticket

Question is, would I be entitled to the free tickets option

Yes. One free return for the outward (1h+) and one free single for the return (30m+).

secondly is it literally from anywhere to anywhere on their route map

Yep, as long as both stations are served by regular Northern passenger services (including their DRS, TPE branded units) you can go anywhere. You get a fold-out map along with your coupon and copy-and-paste-sorry-for-the-delay-letter.

and thirdly as I was effectively delayed on both legs, even though I can't prove I intended to get the 1356 back, should I fill in two forms, one for each direction?

Yes. Your ticket number and/or journey times should suffice, but try not to misplace your ticket just in case.

Can you get free tickets AND claim your ticket cost back? Also who said you're entitled to the free ticket?

No. It clearly states on the website and on the form that you get a choice. Don't be greedy

No idea how the free tickets option is processed, would be interesting to know

See attached image.

 

[trainophile]

Thanks for all the replies and very helpful information. I'm going to go for it then!

Presumably Network Rail will ultimately pick up the tab, so I don't feel too bad about the cost to Northern. It was good of their staff to actively distribute the claim forms (and bottles of water at Workington), top marks there.
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Just filling in the forms, and the address they say to send them to is:

Freepost
NORTHERN RAILWAY.

Is this sufficient when posting from a place outside the Northern area, i.e. the West Midlands? Will the sorting office know where to send it?

(Don't want to do the online form as I'm not very clever at scanning tickets.)

 

[maniacmartin]

Just filling in the forms, and the address they say to send them to is:

Freepost
NORTHERN RAILWAY.

Is this sufficient when posting from a place outside the Northern area, i.e. the West Midlands? Will the sorting office know where to send it?

Yes, it is. It's a Freepsot NAME address from Royal Mail

 

[trainophile]

Yes, it is. It's a Freepsot NAME address from Royal Mail

Oh that's brilliant, thank you. I can post it now.

 

[cuccir]

but you could go from Carlisle to Durham for instance

No you can't!

(At least, not as a return journey using Northern in one day )

 

[trainophile]

Well... I finally received two envelopes from Northern today, three months after the delay occurred.. One apologising and "enclosing One Single Northern Voucher", which was not enclosed, just a Northern network map :roll: , and the other, posted three days earlier, apologising and enclosing one voucher for a day's travel anywhere on their network - that's more like it!

Two would have been nice, so I could go somewhere, stay overnight or a couple of nights, and come back, with just the accommodation to pay for. Still, mustn't be greedy...

 

[janb]

Spoke to a customer recently who had spoken to CEC, apparently they had reached the start of November with Delay Repay claims so that fits with the timing of your response and got a little while longer to wait with my own claim.

 

[Merseysider]

Spoke to a customer recently who had spoken to CEC, apparently they had reached the start of November with Delay Repay claims so that fits with the timing of your response and got a little while longer to wait with my own claim.

A 10-week delay, wow. That's better than when the new franchise started! However crap Northern are, I'm just grateful we don't have Southern

 

[janb]

Update. Received response to my 30th November claim on the 1st March (letter dated 22nd February).

 

[thealexweb]

I sent in a delay repay claim by email on 18/12/2016 and earlier today I received a reply. I had long since given up hearing anything back so I recycled my tickets weeks ago... I have the confirmation email I received when I originally purchased my tickets but it doesn't seem to be enough for them.

 

[yorksrob]

I sent in a delay repay claim by email on 18/12/2016 and earlier today I received a reply. I had long since given up hearing anything back so I recycled my tickets weeks ago... I have the confirmation email I received when I originally purchased my tickets but it doesn't seem to be enough for them.

That's good news. I'm also awaiting a claim from mid December ! I wait with baited breath but always junckmail so far

 

[DaveB10780]

I have just received a couple of single tickets. Does anyone know the rules for travel? For instance could I travel from Chinley to New Mills via Sheffield, Leeds, Manchester?

 

[Merseysider]

I have just received a couple of single tickets. Does anyone know the rules for travel? For instance could I travel from Chinley to New Mills via Sheffield, Leeds, Manchester?

They're subject to the National Rail Conditions of Travel, which means you've got to be sensible about routeing. If you could do the route on a normal through ticket you'll be fine, likewise if the only possible route (eg York - Newcastle, Oxenholme - Carlisle) is a longwinded one. Otherwise you may get a guard who doesn't see the funny side and end up being asked for £20+ for new tickets. New Mills - Leeds via Sheffield would be fine.