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Eurostar left us stranded at St Pancras {24/10/15)....

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satmann

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Hi, just wanted advice on the following situation, getting very frustrated ringing and waiting to speak to someone at Eurostar, if anyone's been in something similar. Will keep it brief....

Family travelling back to Leicester from Disneyland Paris. Tickets purchased from Eurostar. At the train station informed that our train was late and that we needed to get on another train to Lille Florence, to make it too Lille Europe to make sure we got on the last Eurostar out of France that night. We were allocated no seats on the train to Lille and then had to make our own way to Lille Europe.

At Lille informed Eurostar staff we would miss our connection to Leicester at 10pm was told staff would be informed at St Pancras to provide assistance. On the Train informed the train manager again, he looked on his iPad and said that there were a further 2 trains after 11pm from st Pancras and that he would stamp my tickets to hop on to these. He went away and came back and said st Pancras had been informed and he stamped my tickets.

On arriving at st Pancras we noticed no Eurostar staff but we headed straight to the platform, when we got there we noticed no staff. Waited asked the cleaner who said to wait at desk. With the children getting agitated and it being cold we decided to go back down and find somewhere warm. I managed to find the train station security man. Who was surprised and told me that there was no trains after 10pm on a Saturday night. He radioed his manager who rang the Eurostar control room, but was told that they could not do anything as the managers had gone home.

To the cut the story short...with it being being 12am and the kids not eaten since Disneyland Paris and concerned about our safety. We decided to get a hotel room, the train station security man went with me to try to get us a room. We could not find any vacant room. Came back to the station, with it being nearly 1am and kids tired and hungry we decide to get a cab too Leicester costing £170 and arriving at around 4am.

Next day (Sunday) managed to get through to st Pancras Eurostar. Spoke to someone, who informed me everything was logged. Gave me an email contact to customer services, who I emailed, explaining everything. Monday got email saying forward hotel receipt. Got very annoyed had obviously not read my email. Straight away rang them. Spoke to someone who said forward email to them and they would speak to their manager and get back to me at Tuesday 2pm.

Heard nothing on Tuesday and Wednesday. Senet email late yesterday asking for details for a senior contact, no response.

Would anyone have a senior contact name for customer services at Eurostar?

Or any other advice?
Thanks for the help.
 
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simonw

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According to real time trains the last train from Lile on the 24th arrived at St P just after 21.00. Was this the one you were on?
 

satmann

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The Eurostar we were on from Lille arrived at St Pancras at 22:35ish. I was supposed to be on the 22:00 to Leicester. I do not know where the Eurostar came from before Lille.
 

Mag_seven

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The Eurostar we were on from Lille arrived at St Pancras at 22:35ish. I was supposed to be on the 22:00 to Leicester. I do not know where the Eurostar came from before Lille.

Looks like it is this train:
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/L11125/2015/10/24/advanced

It has a booked arrival at 22.12 which is quite tight for the 22.26 (last Leicester service) though not impossible if on time. I suspect Eurostar got it wrong re the last train from St Pancras to Leicester on a Saturday night and should have arranged a taxi or hotel for you.
 
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simonw

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The Eurostar we were on from Lille arrived at St Pancras at 22:35ish. I was supposed to be on the 22:00 to Leicester. I do not know where the Eurostar came from before Lille.
It would be the Marseilles train but that was never due to arrive at St P before 22.00.
 

Zoidberg

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It would be the Marseilles train but that was never due to arrive at St P before 22.00.

I think that's the point.

My understanding is that the Eurostar the OP was to get would have allowed him to make his 2200 connection to Leicester, but due to late running of the Eurostar his party was booked on they were directed to another Eurostar service which they had to catch from Lille. That arrived too late for the connection.

Sorry if I am stating the obvious and missing the point of your post.
 
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simonw

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I think that's the point.

My understanding is that the Eurostar the OP was to get would have allowed him to make his 2200 connection to Leicester, but due to late running of the Eurostar his party was booked on they were directed to another Eurostar service which they had to catch from Lille. That arrived too late for the connection.

Sorry if I am stating the obvious and missing the point of your post.

You may well be right, having re-read the OP. Not sure why he wasn't sent to Paris to pick up the train there.
 

MikeWh

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You may well be right, having re-read the OP. Not sure why he wasn't sent to Paris to pick up the train there.

Does the train from Marseille stop in Paris?
 

simonw

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Does the train from Marseille stop in Paris?

Not that I am aware, but there was a e* train from Paris that was due into St P at 21:39, albeit it actually arrived at 21:46. Disney to Paris is a much shorter journey IIRC than Disney to Lille.
 

Mag_seven

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Family travelling back to Leicester from Disneyland Paris. Tickets purchased from Eurostar. At the train station informed that our train was late and that we needed to get on another train to Lille Florence, to make it too Lille Europe to make sure we got on the last Eurostar out of France that night.

What station was this?
 

satmann

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This is my itinerary inbound....


Departs Disneyland Resort (Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy) at 18:52 on Saturday 24 October
Arrives Lille Europe at 20:00 on Saturday 24 October
Duration 01h 08m
Standard Class Semi Flexible: View fare conditions

30 minutes stopover. You'll need to transfer to another station - more info

Departs Lille Europe at 20:30 on Saturday 24 October
Arrives London St Pancras Int'l at 21:03 on Saturday 24 October
Duration 01h 33m
Standard : View fare conditions

57 minutes stopover. You'll need to transfer to another station - more info
You will need to travel to London St Pancras from London St Pancras Int

Departs London St Pancras at 22:00 on Saturday 24 October
Arrives Leicester at 23:27 on Saturday 24 October

The Eurostar we did catch from Lille, I didn't note the time we left has was just getting breath back from the dash from the other station to Lille Europe, we were last in line when we got there. But I do remember arriving at St Pancras between 10:30-10:40 pm.

£170 for a taxi. I am hoping that Eurostar will pay out on this one. Would it have been cheaper for a hotel room? How big was your party? Or would it have worked out the same? Bearing in mind it would not have been unreasonable to expect them to pay for an evening meal and breakfast too if you'd have stayed over.

Does Eurostar compensate for delays too?

The thing that scares me most was we could have just carried on waiting at the platform, has we were worried we would miss our train if we moved. Couldn't get no hotel room, think due to the rugby World Cup.

Is he referring to Lille Flandres? It's no more than 10 mins walk from Lille Europe.

From Marne la vallee we arrived at Lille flandres, then went to Lille Europe.
 

gray1404

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£170 for a taxi. I am hoping that Eurostar will pay out on this one. Would it have been cheaper for a hotel room? How big was your party? Or would it have worked out the same? Bearing in mind it would not have been unreasonable to expect them to pay for an evening meal and breakfast too if you'd have stayed over.

Does Eurostar compensate for delays too?
 

Zoidberg

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Is he referring to Lille Flandres? It's no more than 10 mins walk from Lille Europe.

I think not since the OP said:

At the train station informed that our train was late and that we needed to get on another train to Lille Florence, to make it too Lille Europe to make sure we got on the last Eurostar out of France that night.

and mentions having to make his own way between the Lille stations. From that I take 'the train station' to be where he originally intended to catch his booked Eurostar service.

Hopefully the OP will soon return and respond to the queries raised in the thread. But so far no-one has been able to respond to his request for a high-ranking contact within Eurostar with whom to raise the matter.

EDIT: I missed the OP's posts #13 and #14 when composing the above, sorry.
 
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swj99

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I'd just add up all the expenses and send a letter to Eurostar, asking for full reimbursement. Email and phone calls are a hassle and are too easily forgotten. It's better to just write to companies. I'm sure it will be easier for them to pay you than to defend a claim if you were to take them to court. A private individual is at an advantage when claiming against a company, because on the small claims track in the county court, each side pays their own costs, so if they were to defend the claim and you lost, you would not be liable for their costs, even if they'd used a solicitor and it had cost them £500.

Eurostar International Limited
Times House
Bravingtons Walk
Regents Quarter
London
N1 9AW
 
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30907

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I'd just add up all the expenses and send a letter to Eurostar, asking for full reimbursement.
It's better to just write to companies. I'm sure it will be easier for them to pay you than to defend a claim if you were to take them to court.

I agree about writing, but I don't think there's any indication that Eurostar have refused or will refuse to reimburse the costs. Only that they haven't returned a phone call as promised.
 

gray1404

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It is very bad that no staff were meeting the incoming arrival or that the train manager was not able to do anything. What is more concerning is that even when the control centre was contacted they didn't do anything on the basis that a Manager was not there. This is just wrong and means Eurostar knowingly left a passenger stranded.

Is it possible to take such a complaint against Eurostar to Transport Focus or another body? (I am not suggesting it has reachd that stage yet though)
 

bb21

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Someone obviously messed up as the last departure on Saturdays has been around 2230 for years. A little bit later on Sundays (around 2300) and later on weekdays.

I think it is concerning that there was no one there to help, considering that late night is when missing a connection can most likely leave a passenger stranded.

I can only echo the advice of writing to the company. You can even go for the two-pronged approach, maintaining telephone/email contact with them at the same time.
 

satmann

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It is very bad that no staff were meeting the incoming arrival or that the train manager was not able to do anything. What is more concerning is that even when the control centre was contacted they didn't do anything on the basis that a Manager was not there. This is just wrong and means Eurostar knowingly left a passenger stranded.

Is it possible to take such a complaint against Eurostar to Transport Focus or another body? (I am not suggesting it has reachd that stage yet though)

This is what really got too me, the control room knew we were stranded has the security man had 3 conversations with them in front of me. The security man did everything he could. Even the security man couldn't believe what was happening hence him going with me to look for a room. But I had leave my family at the train station. Kids crying. Wouldn't want anyone to experience that.

The least I expected was for them to read my email, someone in a senior capacity to ring me and explain why this happened. What they were going to do too stop this happening to another family. But it's me who's been doing everything.
 

gray1404

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This is what really got too me, the control room knew we were stranded has the security man had 3 conversations with them in front of me. The security man did everything he could. Even the security man couldn't believe what was happening hence him going with me to look for a room. But I had leave my family at the train station. Kids crying. Wouldn't want anyone to experience that.

The least I expected was for them to read my email, someone in a senior capacity to ring me and explain why this happened. What they were going to do too stop this happening to another family. But it's me who's been doing everything.

Not just another family but any traveller for that matter.

Given the control centre left you stranded knowingly, I think you could go to the press about this one. Daily Mail here we come.
 

satmann

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Thanks for the replies and advice. Will keep everyone posted has to what happens etc. More annoyed about the way we have been treated since last Saturday than the £170 spent on the taxi. I won't be ringing or emailing them, just causes more stress, all ready had a enough of this.

Feel free to give more advice. I will update as too what route I go down. And what happens. Will keep this updated.
Really good forum.
 

najaB

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Given the control centre left you stranded knowingly, I think you could go to the press about this one. Daily Mail here we come.
I don't understand the rush to go to the press with things like this. Did Eurostar let the OP down on the day? Yes, undeniably. Have they handled the complaint well? So far, no. Have they totally washed their hands of the matter? Possibly, but more likely the person who was dealing with the complaint has dropped the ball (off sick, deleted email by mistake, etc.). It's only been 2 days beyond where they promised to call.

So by all means call them - and write as well - to say how disappointed you are about how they've handled the matter, both on the day and since but there's no need to go running to the papers.
 

satmann

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Just found a twitter feed for Eurostar. To my surprise a member from here had contacted them yesterday and sent them the link to this thread. Thanks to whoever it was (that's amazing). They did not get in touch with me like they said they would.

This was the reply on Monday from them, and the reason I still cant believe they didn't get back too me......

Hi

I would sincerely like to apologize again for this situation.I have read your email with a lot of attention and after talking to you over the phone understand how upsetting and frustrating the situation was.

As agreed I will inform our Traveller care Team manager to look into this and will get back to you tomorrow.If for the time being you could send me the receipt of your taxi expenses this will help.

I will contact you as agreed tomorrow.

Regards

Instead of ringing them am gonna tweet them. Doing it now.
 

Clip

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Not just another family but any traveller for that matter.

Given the control centre left you stranded knowingly, I think you could go to the press about this one. Daily Mail here we come.

Its very concerning that you seem to have gone from TF to the press in less than 4 hours - is this all you do, complain? And if you don't get your way you run to the press with a suitably grumpy picture? Seems on a lot of posts you reply to you never give the railway a chance and always seem to jump in with first mentioning compensation or running to a body and now the press before the more sensible notion of conversation first.

Yeah E* haven't done well on this but theres many factors as to why not but it appears that they are trying to make amends now so give them a chance eh?
 

satmann

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Quick update..they say traveller care team to ring me tomorrow. I have asked for senior contact, so I can ring them direct. Rather than wait for same team who have not got back to me this week. Will keep you posted.
 
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