London does have an extensive night bus network despite passengers travelling long-distance may require a transfer between buses and have a long wait during the transfer (up to 30 minutes).
There were couple of last trains were cancelled at London Cannon Street on 9th June night, and station announcements at 23:45 announced all trains are to be cancelled, and invite passengers to walk to London Bridge Station to try to catch the last services.
However, as there are distances, I was unable to make it to catch the last train to Welling. Network Rail staff (in London Bridge) barred me to enter the platform, and told me that they are unable to arrange alternative transport as they are not railway company (fair enough), but also mentioned all Southeastern platform staffs are off at 23:00.
I went to the ticket office and asked for help, (and asked carefully whether he is a Southeastern staff), and he directed me to platform 6 (Southeastern) side to see if buses are arranged. Obviously, when reaching the ground floor landing of escalator to platform 6, was barred by the same Network Rail London Bridge staff again, and was asked to go back to the ticket office again.
I requested a taxi to be arranged but he mentioned he cannot do that and asked me to take the night bus from New Cross Gate. But since I am not familiar with New Cross area (and quite fear of the dodgy situation there, while also being an ethnic minority which has even more risk), I stressed about railway company is required by rules to arrange alternative travel, but no positive result (though he was kind enough to show me the bus stop map of New Cross Gate area, but that's not very useful in my case).
Is Southeastern in the wrong this time in asking passengers to take the London night bus instead of arranging a taxi? Or, are most Londoners are deprived of not eligible in getting alternative transport to be arranged by railway company at the railway company's expense?
Also, seems Network Rail's one-uniform approach at major London stations is not working well, as staff of each company still not be able to cover their counterpart's duty.
There were couple of last trains were cancelled at London Cannon Street on 9th June night, and station announcements at 23:45 announced all trains are to be cancelled, and invite passengers to walk to London Bridge Station to try to catch the last services.
However, as there are distances, I was unable to make it to catch the last train to Welling. Network Rail staff (in London Bridge) barred me to enter the platform, and told me that they are unable to arrange alternative transport as they are not railway company (fair enough), but also mentioned all Southeastern platform staffs are off at 23:00.
I went to the ticket office and asked for help, (and asked carefully whether he is a Southeastern staff), and he directed me to platform 6 (Southeastern) side to see if buses are arranged. Obviously, when reaching the ground floor landing of escalator to platform 6, was barred by the same Network Rail London Bridge staff again, and was asked to go back to the ticket office again.
I requested a taxi to be arranged but he mentioned he cannot do that and asked me to take the night bus from New Cross Gate. But since I am not familiar with New Cross area (and quite fear of the dodgy situation there, while also being an ethnic minority which has even more risk), I stressed about railway company is required by rules to arrange alternative travel, but no positive result (though he was kind enough to show me the bus stop map of New Cross Gate area, but that's not very useful in my case).
Is Southeastern in the wrong this time in asking passengers to take the London night bus instead of arranging a taxi? Or, are most Londoners are deprived of not eligible in getting alternative transport to be arranged by railway company at the railway company's expense?
Also, seems Network Rail's one-uniform approach at major London stations is not working well, as staff of each company still not be able to cover their counterpart's duty.