Rail replacement buses should be officially made free.

[miklcct]

In Hong Kong, all rail replacement buses are officially free. These not only include emergency buses during disruption, but also in the rare cases where rail replacement buses are used during engineering works.

More recently, there was an instance where there were no rail replacement bus for the closed section, instead, a local bus route running through the affected section was made free during the works, with service strengthened to carry displaced rail passengers, such that passengers never have to pay extra when a portion of the rail journey is bustituted.

Rail replacement buses are considered a failure of the rail operator to provide the advertised service, that's why they are free there. Also, during rail disruption, the priority is to get as many passengers moving as possible, with buses sourced from everywhere, it is not actually possible to collect any fares physically.

I really think that rail replacement buses in the UK should be officially made free, using the same reasoning above that the rail operator fails to provide the advertised service (as advertised in the half-yearly timetable), and that rail replacement buses are an inferior service which don't warrant the full rail fare. Also, it is the practical reality in London as well because of the inability to collect PAYG fares on replacement buses, so why don't make this reality officially on paper, such that there is no doubt that you don't need to pay?

 

[The exile]

In Hong Kong, all rail replacement buses are officially free. These not only include emergency buses during disruption, but also in the rare cases where rail replacement buses are used during engineering works.

More recently, there was an instance where there were no rail replacement bus for the closed section, instead, a local bus route running through the affected section was made free during the works, with service strengthened to carry displaced rail passengers, such that passengers never have to pay extra when a portion of the rail journey is bustituted.

Rail replacement buses are considered a failure of the rail operator to provide the advertised service, that's why they are free there. Also, during rail disruption, the priority is to get as many passengers moving as possible, with buses sourced from everywhere, it is not actually possible to collect any fares physically.

I really think that rail replacement buses in the UK should be officially made free, using the same reasoning above that the rail operator fails to provide the advertised service (as advertised in the half-yearly timetable), and that rail replacement buses are an inferior service which don't warrant the full rail fare. Also, it is the practical reality in London as well because of the inability to collect PAYG fares on replacement buses, so why don't make this reality officially on paper, such that there is no doubt that you don't need to pay?

So what do you think happens when it becomes known that you can (for example) get from Tiverton Parkway to Plymouth for nothing on a summer Sunday? Your idea would probably appear to work for a bit but once the word got around…
Suspect also that bus operators might have grounds for an unfair competition case in all but last-minute emergencies.

 

[Magdalia]

In Hong Kong, all rail replacement buses are officially free.

What you mean is that rail replacement buses are free at the point of use. They still have a cost, which someone has to pay. There is no such thing as a free lunch.

Making rail replacement buses are free at the point of use would encourage passengers to buy cheaper tickets that did not cover the bus part of their journey, and total revenue would fall. How are you proposing to replace that lost revenue?

 

[mrcheek]

Hong Kong. Where rail replacement buses are free, but the people are not.

I think I know which I would prefer

 

[The Planner]

In Hong Kong, all rail replacement buses are officially free. These not only include emergency buses during disruption, but also in the rare cases where rail replacement buses are used during engineering works.

More recently, there was an instance where there were no rail replacement bus for the closed section, instead, a local bus route running through the affected section was made free during the works, with service strengthened to carry displaced rail passengers, such that passengers never have to pay extra when a portion of the rail journey is bustituted.

Rail replacement buses are considered a failure of the rail operator to provide the advertised service, that's why they are free there. Also, during rail disruption, the priority is to get as many passengers moving as possible, with buses sourced from everywhere, it is not actually possible to collect any fares physically.

I really think that rail replacement buses in the UK should be officially made free, using the same reasoning above that the rail operator fails to provide the advertised service (as advertised in the half-yearly timetable), and that rail replacement buses are an inferior service which don't warrant the full rail fare. Also, it is the practical reality in London as well because of the inability to collect PAYG fares on replacement buses, so why don't make this reality officially on paper, such that there is no doubt that you don't need to pay?

Why is it a failure of the rail operator to provide a service? how is it their fault if NR agrees with them to close the line for renewal or enhancement work and are compensated as such to prove the rail replacement buses?

 

[AlterEgo]

Hong Kong. Where rail replacement buses are free, but the people are not.

I think I know which I would prefer

Why would it be a binary choice?

 

[Belperpete]

The Cambrian has in the past been shut for lengthy periods (several months), such as for work on the Barmouth Bridge. TfW had to take measures to prevent free use of the RRBs, to avoid them being overwhelmed. As a previous poster noted, once word gets around that they are free, everyone wants a freebie.

 

[dosxuk]

In Hong Kong, all rail replacement buses are officially free. These not only include emergency buses during disruption, but also in the rare cases where rail replacement buses are used during engineering works.

So what do you think happens when it becomes known that you can (for example) get from Tiverton Parkway to Plymouth for nothing on a summer Sunday? Your idea would probably appear to work for a bit but once the word got around…

It's just another of the OP's topics where he posts something that works for a city state, but wouldn't be remotely possible in a country the size of the UK.

 

[Meole]

Never had a ticket check on numerous bus replacements.

 

[Lewisham2221]

Never had a ticket check on numerous bus replacements.

That doesn't mean they're free, though.

 

[stevieinselby]

I really think that rail replacement buses in the UK should be officially made free, using the same reasoning above that the rail operator fails to provide the advertised service (as advertised in the half-yearly timetable), and that rail replacement buses are an inferior service which don't warrant the full rail fare. Also, it is the practical reality in London as well because of the inability to collect PAYG fares on replacement buses, so why don't make this reality officially on paper, such that there is no doubt that you don't need to pay?

What is particularly galling is when, because of planned engineering works, not only do you suffer a longer journey and a worse experience, but you often end up paying more for it than you otherwise would have done, because there will be no allocation of advance fares for a journey involving a replacement bus. And while in some cases you might be able to cobble together a selection of advance fares covering the parts of the journey that are still by train plus full-price fares for the road section, to make the total cost cheaper than an open ticket, that is a lot of extra hassle and is still likely to cost more than if you had been able to buy an advance ticket right through.

 

[3RDGEN]

The Lib Dems proposed a refund of a third for rail replacement buses back in 2010 when Norman Baker was their shadow transport secretary;

"https://www.libdemvoice.org/baker-t...orced-on-to-rail-replacement-buses-17728.html"

"Ah, the joy of train travel – you buy your ticket, possibly costing you a small fortune unless booked in advance, only to discover you’re chucked off the train and onto a bus if there are repairs being made to the line. Well, no more, says Norman Baker, the Lib Dems’ shadow transport secretary.

Stormin’ Norm is proposing that the Lib Dems would radically overhaul Network Rail, replacing its executives with a ‘Public Interest Board’ made up of representatives of customer watchdog Passenger Focus, the Local Government Association and independent experts. They would be charged with putting the interests of passengers first, and making the organisation more more accountable and transparent – including refunding passengers who are forced on to rail replacement buses a third of their fare."

Never came to pass whilst they were in the collation government and not sure they still promote the idea.

 

[Helvellyn]

What is particularly galling is when, because of planned engineering works, not only do you suffer a longer journey and a worse experience, but you often end up paying more for it than you otherwise would have done, because there will be no allocation of advance fares for a journey involving a replacement bus. And while in some cases you might be able to cobble together a selection of advance fares covering the parts of the journey that are still by train plus full-price fares for the road section, to make the total cost cheaper than an open ticket, that is a lot of extra hassle and is still likely to cost more than if you had been able to buy an advance ticket right through.

The East Coast Mainline is shut between King's Cross and St Neots this weekend, so LNER passengers are being bussed between Bedford and St Neots, and have to use EMR/Thameslink between Bedford and St Pancras.

Not only are Advance tickets still available tomorrow but they have a pop-up on their app telling people to put 'via St Neots' when they do a search to make sure the LNER fares are properly exposed.