FGW ticket relaxations due to line closure through Dawlish?

[Goatboy]

In terms of ticket acceptance whilst this problem continues, I hold an Advance ticket, presumably this will now pretty much work like a regular offpeak single on the date shown on the ticket, given it's fairly impossible to use the booked trains and meet the booked connections?

 

[hst2cornwall]

I to have an advance tickets booked from exeter to truro on march 22nd. Not sure what to do because even though i assume alternative transport will be available, we will be taking up quite a lot of room with 2 adults, 2 guide dogs, a baby/push chair and suit case. 1st class swell. Probably a good time to talk to FGW then? And thats not to mention the diversion via newport on the return leg a week later.

 

[TEW]

For journeys at the moment you can travel on any train. This might change when the service which will be operated in the long term is established, and I suspect FGW will have an announcement about ticket restrictions in the long term soon. They might, for example, require Advance ticket holders to travel within a certain time window of their booked ticket. If you want to cancel your journey entirely if you phone FGW is suspect you will have no problems in obtaining a full refund.

 

[Hadders]

If you want to cancel your journey entirely if you phone FGW is suspect you will have no problems in obtaining a full refund.

I have an advance ticket from Stevenage to Plymouth booked through East Coast's website for travel on 28 February which I need to get refunded as the train obviously won't run and a replacement coach is unacceptable for me.

Phoned East Coast and asked them to refund the ticket and was told 'we can't do that as the train's still down as running in the system.'

So I've got to phone back nearer the time. I have to wonder why someone can't use any common sense - this is the sort of thing that gives the railway a bad name.

 

[richw]

Fgw posted an update on twitter that all restrictions for tickets valid west of Exeter had been relaxed.

 

[TEW]

I have an advance ticket from Stevenage to Plymouth booked through East Coast's website for travel on 28 February which I need to get refunded as the train obviously won't run and a replacement coach is unacceptable for me.

Phoned East Coast and asked them to refund the ticket and was told 'we can't do that as the train's still down as running in the system.'

So I've got to phone back nearer the time. I have to wonder why someone can't use any common sense - this is the sort of thing that gives the railway a bad name.

You might be better off sending an e-mail to FGW customer services, or writing to FGW. The coach replacement to Plymouth won't add any time to the journey. The coach journey from Tiverton Parkway-Plymouth usually takes just over an hour, which is slightly quicker than by train.

 

[Temple Meads]

Indeed, apart from the time and inconvenience to transfer, I can't see an issue with travelling on rail replacement - as long as the coach is half decent it's certainly no worse a travelling experience than a Voyager (quite the opposite IMO, but then I'm weird).

 

[Hadders]

That's a fair point about the time the coach takes but my plan was to travel to Plymouth and return on the sleeper. There doesn't seem to be a replacement for the sleeper so that's scuppered the trip.

I got the sleeper tickets refunded without hassle at the excellent EC operated Stevenage Travel Centre.

 

[Squaddie]

Indeed, apart from the time and inconvenience to transfer, I can't see an issue with travelling on rail replacement - as long as the coach is half decent it's certainly no worse a travelling experience than a Voyager (quite the opposite IMO, but then I'm weird).

I also will not travel on a replacement bus service: if I want to travel by bus I'll buy a ticket with National Express for a fraction of the train fare. (Although I agree that a coach is usually more comfortable than a Voyager, and almost every other standard class offering on the network).

 

[richw]

http://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/new...ffected_by_Dawlish_railway_closure/?ref=var_0

First Great Western has confirmed a 25 per cent discount on walk-up fares for services affected by the closure of the railway at Dawlish.

Yesterday, Network Rail confirmed that the damage to the track will take at least six weeks to fix, and trains will not be able to run between Exeter and Plymouth during that time.

Instead, First Great Western has ordered hundreds of buses to provide alternative transport between the two cities while the track is repaired.

Volunteers from other areas of the business, who have been supporting our efforts to keep customers moving in the area are expected to be joined by colleagues from other FirstGroup rail companies throughout the UK over the weekend.




A 25 per cent discount will apply to all walk-up fares - including Any time, Off-Peak, Super Off-Peak and weekly season tickets - for journeys that pass through the affected area, and will remain in place until the line reopens.

The same discount will apply to monthly and annual season tickets on a pro-rata basis. Holders of these season tickets will be contacted directly with details of how this rebate will be applied.

Advance Purchase fares will also be reintroduced on the route for combined bus and rail fares from Wednesday next week. The company has been unable to offer Advance Purchase tickets – which are tied to specific trains - since Wednesday, as we were unable to guarantee which trains would be running.

First Great Western MD, Mark Hopwood said: “We recognise that this work will mean customers are inconvenienced, and journey times are likely to take longer than normal as we look at alternative ways of getting customers to where they need to go. We want our prices to reflect that.

“No-one should lose out because of this. FGW's promise is that anyone who has been unable to purchase an Advance Purchase ticket because they were removed from the system and paid more than they would have done normally, will be reimbursed the difference."

 

[Goatboy]

They announced that yesterday but so far the website will only sell full price walkon fares not discounted ones..

 

[jon0844]

I saw an interview on TV and the refund promise is so people can buy now, and get the difference back when the advance fares get loaded on later. Or that was my understanding of it.

 

[Sleepy]

Disruption holding page link mentions the discount will available from Monday.http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/...for-services-affected-by-Dawlish-line-closure

 

[hst2cornwall]

So what does this mean, either i'm stupid or FGW are offering me a 25 percent discount on a full price 1st class off peak return, booked in advance from exeter to truro. isn't that still more than my fellow passenger is paying for their off peak return in standard? I only book 1st class because theres more room for guide dogs etc. And don't the replacement buses state they don't have to take suit cases and push chairs? I expect not many people on here will be in my particular predicament, but I will attempt to speak to FGW assisted travel and post back with their response. Which ever way you look at it, these are troubling times for the Dawlish line, which, I am sure, will be sorted sooner than some of the media predictions are saying. Heres hoping anyway.

 

[Goatboy]

Of course its more than a Standard Class passenger would pay, it's a First Class ticket and you'll be back in First Class once you get off the bus in Newton Abbot/wherever.

You have the choice to not purchase the First Class ticket if you feel the amount of time in First Class accomodation doesn't justify the cost of the ticket.

 

[MrCub]

I was due to make a trip to Plymouth from London next Saturday. Don't fancy the bus; delays getting ridiculous. No-one's fault. I bought an advance 1st ticket online; contacted the websupport team by 'phone. They couldn't have been more helpful. Refund to be processed in due course. No admin fee. So if anyone wants to get a refund on advance tickets, just get in touch with them and all will be made very easy.

 

[crosscity]

I'm a bit confused by the FGW 25% offer. I hope to travel from Birmingham to St Ives for a few days in the next few weeks. Usually I would buy 'walk-on' fares in advance and on-line, with split tickets at Cheltenham Spa.

To avail myself of the 25% discount, do I need to get off at Cheltenham and buy them from the booking office, or will I be able to buy them on-line (and if so, just from the FGW website, or from any website)?

 

[TEW]

FGW have stated that discounted fares will be available from tomorrow, as presumably that is when the fares database is updated. They haven't said anything about where they will be available to buy.