XC cancellation - what arrangements made for passengers?

[Bishopstone]

The live departure boards show XC's 15.08 Edinburgh - Plymouth, scheduled arrival time 23.45, to have been cancelled beyond Leeds due to shortage of train crew.

In fact, the service appears to have been re-started from Birmingham (right time), but that would be no good to passengers already on board from points north of Leeds.

Normally, I suppose, an apology would be dispensed and passengers asked to catch the next XC service 30 or 60 minutes later. However, I believe this train to be the last connection to points south of Bristol. Even if ticket/routing restrictions were lifted, I'm not sure passengers could make it down the ECML and across London in time to catch the 20.35 Paddington - Plymouth. Other than that, it's the Sleeper!

Do XC end up paying for taxis from Yorkshire to Devon in cases such as this?

 

[Eagle]

Do XC end up paying for taxis from Yorkshire to Devon in cases such as this?

From experience, XC's taxi policy is "go as far as you can by rail and we'll pay for a taxi from there". So probably Bristol to Plymouth is the most they'd shell out for.

I've seen people at Birmingham New Street who have missed the last connection to Manchester told to wait for over an hour for the 01xx Virgin train to Wolverhampton and a taxi would meet them there.

 

[PHILIPE]

I recall some years ago when a XC train terminated at Bristol Temple Meads due to failure, XC advised a trainload of passengers to catch an 18 03 Cardiff to Exeter forward (Wales and West at that time). It was booked to be worked by a 153 !!!

 

[Greenback]

The company will get any through passengers as far as they can by rail before resorting to the use of taxi's.

In extreme circumstances passengers may be put up for the night in hotels.

In this case, the first thing to do would be to establish how many passengers are actually in need of assistance to get to their final destination.

I would guess that the majority of travellers in this example would not require road transport, as they will be able to use alternative trains.

 

[1e10]

What happens to the train from Leeds? Surely it will need to get to Plymouth tonight or there will be a train short for services at Plymouth.

 

[calc7]

What happens to the train from Leeds? Surely it will need to get to Plymouth tonight or there will be a train short for services at Plymouth.

Could just be a case of un-doubling a northbound working from Plymouth in the morning.

 

[Crossover]

What happens to the train from Leeds? Surely it will need to get to Plymouth tonight or there will be a train short for services at Plymouth.

It was started from New St for the onward journey and would likely utilise the New St "hot spare"

The other service would then head back one way or another either to Birmingham or Central Rivers Depot, more than likely (bearing in mind if it is ECS, only a driver and a path on the mainline is required)

 

[1e10]

Could just be a case of un-doubling a northbound working from Plymouth in the morning.

That sounds like fun for anyone wanting to travel on such service!

 

[dzug2]

The 'spare' unit that restarted the train from Birmingham will be available at Plymouth

 

[Bishopstone]

Thanks for the responses.

So, do XC call ahead to Bristol Temple Meads (fGW run, I think?) and let them know there are 25 potentially stranded passengers on the way, who will need taxis?

Or do they just wash-up at Bristol, tired after two unexpected changes, and have to tell their story to platform/gateline staff from scratch?

 

[1e10]

Thanks for the responses.

So, do XC call ahead to Bristol Temple Meads (fGW run, I think?) and let them know there are 25 potentially stranded passengers on the way, who will need taxis?

Or do they just wash-up at Bristol, tired after two unexpected changes, and have to tell their story to platform/gateline staff from scratch?

I would expect them to consult with FGW first.

I was recently on a FGW service from Penzance that was running late, the staff onboard arranged for a XC service to be held at Newton Abbot to allow for connections as it was the last train of the evening for some destinations.

 

[Eagle]

Control will contact ahead to advise staff at Bristol of the situation.

 

[johntea]

Speaking from personal experience it isn't nice when you can't get to your destination due to a problem with the last service of the day as generally you're quite tired and just want to get into bed rather than facing a taxi journey!

Do any TOC have contracts / accounts arranged with hotel chains like they do with taxi firms? Premier Inn or Travelodge are usually never too far away from the major train stations!

 

[AlexS]

Control will contact ahead to advise staff at Bristol of the situation.

Oh they will? That's news to me! Certainly round here we have to ring XC when a passenger or 10 turns up saying 'I'm stuck' and they authorise the taxis there!

 

[YorkshireBear]

Before when the last service south to Plymouth was cancelled I had a very cunning plan. I said i don't need to arrive till early morning, why not let me catch the next train to Birmingham, then the last XC to Reading and wait for the sleeper. They agreed.