Displaced by Southern cancellations - fares advice

[Abpj17]

A friend used to get the Southern East Croydon to Milton Keynes service via Kensington Olympia (specifically from East Croydon to Watford Junction). This apparently cost 1.90 (off-peak, disabled card discount). I can’t find that fare online, but as the route goes around central london rather than through or terminating it’s a relatively cheap fare. (I managed to find a single oyster for 2.00)

Southern are withdrawing the service under their emergency timetable.

The alternative route is a train to Victoria, tube to Euston, then Euston to Watford Junction. As the journey goes through central london the fare is significantly higher (around 8.00?).

As this is a significant jump in price, can any one offer advice on whether refunds are available given the withdrawn service, or whether there is a ticket/route that is cheaper?

I’ve spotted the overground route changing at Clapham and Willesden Junction but that seems to add an hour onto the journey due to bad connections and apparently standing room only (which isn’t ideal given disability).

 

[Quakkerillo]

You could still take the normal route, although it'll require extra changes;
East Croydon - Clapham Junction (Southern)
Clapham Junction - Willesden Junction (London Overground)
Willesden Junction - Watford Junction (London Overground).

Though the trains may be busier due to the obvious reason for more Southern passengers being moved onto these Overground services.

 

[gray1404]

I notice you can apply for delay repay based on both the amended timetable and the normal timetable and this measure has been approved by the DfT. However, how does one find the normal timetable to be able to check if they are entitled to Delay Repay?

Secondly, does anyone know how far in advance the amended timetable has been loaded into journey planners?

 

[ajb690]

According to http://www.southernrailway.com/your-journey/revised-timetable, the new timetable is just for this week.

Monday 11 to Friday 15 July Journey planners have been updated with the revised timetable
Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 July Normal timetable - already in journey planners
Monday 18 to Friday 22 July To be advised

 

[gray1404]

So it looks like they will be doing it on a week by week basis which is useful to know.

 

[Merseysider]

So it looks like they will be doing it on a week by week basis which is useful to know.

Not if you need to plan more than a week in advance!

 

[gray1404]

Not if you need to plan more than a week in advance!

Depends (there are 2 sides to that coin)

 

[Abpj17]

I notice you can apply for delay repay based on both the amended timetable and the normal timetable and this measure has been approved by the DfT. However, how does one find the normal timetable to be able to check if they are entitled to Delay Repay?

Secondly, does anyone know how far in advance the amended timetable has been loaded into journey planners?

Thanks. The normal timetable was still on the Southern website.

I'll advise the delay repay (but that's a complete faff to do half a dozen or so times a week!) which is a start.

 

[matt_world2004]

The running time from East Croydon to Watford Junction is 1 hour 10 minutes and the train leaves 10 minutes past the hour from East Croydon, so get there 10 minutes past the hour and if you get to Watford junction any later 50 minutes past the following hour you can claim delay repay. It takes an hour on the London Overground to Watford junction from Clapham junction including interchange time.

 

[CatfordCat]

two thoughts - northbound journey may be less painful changing on to Overground at Norwood Junction (or getting on at West Croydon instead if ticket will allow this - I'm not sure about this) rather than changing at Clapham Junction and trying to board along with people who have changed from trains from the SW network

also, will 'delay repay' apply where it's a pre-planned cancellation? Again, I can't be sure on this, but I'm aware delay repay doesn't apply in the case of (for example) pre-planned engineering work that's been publicised in advance.

 

[greatkingrat]

two thoughts - northbound journey may be less painful changing on to Overground at Norwood Junction (or getting on at West Croydon instead if ticket will allow this - I'm not sure about this) rather than changing at Clapham Junction and trying to board along with people who have changed from trains from the SW network

That is a completely different part of the Overground and is no use if you are trying to get to Watford Junction.

 

[gray1404]

The DfT have confirmed that delay reply will apply:
If your journey takes 30 or more minutes longer under the amended timetable then it would have under the normal timetable.
Also, you can claim too if you are delayed 30 or more minutes under the amended timetable.

My question is where will one obtain details of what the normal timetable should have been?

 

[greatkingrat]

The Southern website has both the normal and revised timetables

http://www.southernrailway.com/your-journey/plan-your-journey/timetables/

 

[fandroid]

The Norwood Junction route would still require two changes, at Highbury and Islington and Willesden Junction. It goes via zone 1, so it's possible that it doesn't count as Not via London. Can anyone clarify this?

 

[Bletchleyite]

The Norwood Junction route would still require two changes, at Highbury and Islington and Willesden Junction. It goes via zone 1, so it's possible that it doesn't count as Not via London. Can anyone clarify this?

"Not London" basically means "Not London Terminals". Most of the tickets are "route Kensington Olympia", though, which would not be valid without a specific easement.

 

[gray1404]

So does that mean anyone with a Not Via London ticket on other long distance journeys (with fares often set by XC) could travel to Milton Keynes Central or Watford junction then get services say Clapham Junction before continuing South and that would be valid?

 

[OwlMan]

So does that mean anyone with a Not Via London ticket on other long distance journeys (with fares often set by XC) could travel to Milton Keynes Central or Watford junction then get services say Clapham Junction before continuing South and that would be valid?

If it is a valid route in the Routeing Guide then yes otherwise no.

 

[crehld]

So does that mean anyone with a Not Via London ticket on other long distance journeys (with fares often set by XC) could travel to Milton Keynes Central or Watford junction then get services say Clapham Junction before continuing South and that would be valid?

Taking Crewe to Portsmouth as an example, then yes the via NOT LONDON fare is definitely valid via Kensington Olympia (using the routing guide map LC permits travel to Clapham Junction via Kensington Olympia, thus avoiding London, and other maps get you the rest of the way).

Who sets the fare is completely irrelevant.