Swansea - Newcastle split tickets

[aar0]

Hi all,

A few weeks ago I booked some tickets through the forum's raileasy split ticket link from Swansea to Newcastle, leaving today at 1655 and changing at Manchester and Doncaster, arriving at 0041. I'm currently at the station, having arrived 45 minutes in advance, to discover my train to Manchester goes no further than Cardiff. Station staff say they can't help, I chose to split my tickets and now I've effectively chosen to spend the night at Manchester with my partner.... can anyone suggest what I can do?

Thanks in advance

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

Hi all,

A few weeks ago I booked some tickets through the forum's raileasy split ticket link from Swansea to Newcastle, leaving today at 1655 and changing at Manchester and Doncaster, arriving at 0041. I'm currently at the station, having arrived 45 minutes in advance, to discover my train to Manchester goes no further than Cardiff. Station staff say they can't help, I chose to split my tickets and now I've effectively chosen to spend the night at Manchester with my partner.... can anyone suggest what I can do?

Thanks in advance

You may use multiple tickets to make a journey (NRCoT 14.1). If you are unable to complete your journey on one day, but you should have been able to, then any train company in a position to do so must provide overnight accomodation and/or onward travel (NRCoT 28.2). If they fail or refuse to do so (I recommend you contact them via official means, e.g. Twitter, phone etc.) then you can recover the reasonable cost of whichever is more appropriate or convenient.

If you decide to stay overnight then your tickets must be accepted on the next available service(s) complying with your ticket restrictions tomorrow.

Enforcing either of these rights may be difficult if you are not granted them now. You may have to escalate a complaint and/or get in touch with Transport Focus (not that I'm sure they're very effective). You may alternatively wish to initiate a Section 75 Consumer Credit Act claim against the card issuer if you paid by credit card and the total amount was over £100.

 

[JBuchananGB]

Start by boarding th 1721 to Bristol Parkway

 

[yorkie]

Hi all,

A few weeks ago I booked some tickets through the forum's raileasy split ticket link from Swansea to Newcastle, leaving today at 1655 and changing at Manchester and Doncaster, arriving at 0041. I'm currently at the station, having arrived 45 minutes in advance, to discover my train to Manchester goes no further than Cardiff. Station staff say they can't help, I chose to split my tickets and now I've effectively chosen to spend the night at Manchester with my partner.... can anyone suggest what I can do?

Thanks in advance

You are NOT stranded! You are absolutely entitled to get to your destination.

 

[JBuchananGB]

Then catch the 1910 from there to Manchester arriving 2159. If yo do want to continue to Newcastle, the is the 2222 to York, but in York a long wait so you don’t get to Newcastle until 0213.

 

[yorkie]

Hi all,

A few weeks ago I booked some tickets through the forum's raileasy split ticket link from Swansea to Newcastle, leaving today at 1655 and changing at Manchester and Doncaster, arriving at 0041. I'm currently at the station, having arrived 45 minutes in advance, to discover my train to Manchester goes no further than Cardiff. Station staff say they can't help, I chose to split my tickets and now I've effectively chosen to spend the night at Manchester with my partner.... can anyone suggest what I can do?

Thanks in advance

Get off the 1655 at Cardiff Central, then the 1800 rail replacement bus to Cwmbran which is due to arrive 1900.

From Cwmbran, take the 1921 to Manchester Piccadilly, arriving 2215.

Providing you're on time, you should make the 2222 to York, arriving there in time for the last VTEC to Newcastle.

 

[yorkie]

Assuming you've split at the usual places en route such as Cwmbran etc..

Start by boarding th 1721 to Bristol Parkway

Then catch the 1910 from there to Manchester arriving 2159. If yo do want to continue to Newcastle, the is the 2222 to York, but in York a long wait so you don’t get to Newcastle until 0213.

This would give you more time to change at Manchester, but only do this if either ATW agree that you can do this, or if XC (and technically GWR, but I probably wouldn't worry about GWR if XC say yes) say you can, otherwise you have a problem if they won't accept the tickets that way.

If ATW say you need to stick to the Cwmbran route, then they will need to pay for a taxi if you miss the onward trains to York/Newcastle.

 

[aar0]

Thank you very much for your rapid responses!

Start by boarding th 1721 to Bristol Parkway

I've taken the 1655 and will switch to the GWR service at Cardiff - didn't want to wait at Swansea and then find myself totally stuck.

You are NOT stranded! You are absolutely entitled to get to your destination.

Thank you Yorkie!

I did inquire if I was best going via London (my preferred route anyway), buying a ticket at the station and just hoping there was a delay.... but it wouldn't help timewise anyway.

 

[JBuchananGB]

It is slightly difficult to understand how the raileasy journey planner managed to plan this journey, departing at 1655. The journey planner I’m looking at calls for you to have been on the 1621 to reach Newcastle at 0041.

Edit: Obviously before the Engineering work was known about. My apologies.

 

[aar0]

Assuming you've split at the usual places en route such as Cwmbran etc..

Yes;
Swansea to Newcastle on Friday, May 25, 2018. 2 adults. 2 x 16-25 Railcards.

Your outbound journey starts from Swansea at 16:55, but please arrive in plenty of time.

Board the 16:55 Arriva Trains Wales service to Manchester Piccadilly. details
Ticket used: Swansea to Newport (South Wales) (OUT portion). We weren't able to reserve any seats.
You'll arrive at Newport (South Wales) at 18:03, but stay on board, you're just splitting tickets here.
Ticket used: Newport (South Wales) to Cwmbran.
You'll arrive at Cwmbran at 18:14, but stay on board, you're just splitting tickets here.
Ticket used: Cwmbran to Church Stretton.
You'll arrive at Church Stretton at 19:36, but stay on board, you're just splitting tickets here.
Ticket used: Church Stretton to Wilmslow. You have reserved 2 seats in coach A: 16F (window, table)., 15F (aisle, table).
You'll arrive at Wilmslow at 20:41, but stay on board, you're just splitting tickets here.
Ticket used: Wilmslow to Manchester Piccadilly.You have reserved 2 seats in coach A: 17F (window, table)., 18F (aisle, table). why?
You'll arrive at Manchester Piccadilly at 21:09. Leave the train here.

You have a 10 minute wait at Manchester Piccadilly station.

Board the 21:19 Transpennine Express service to Cleethorpes.
Ticket used: Manchester Stations to Newcastle.You have reserved 2 seats in coach C: 21 (aisle, airline)., 20 (window, airline).
You'll arrive at Doncaster at 22:36. Leave the train here.

You have a 11 minute wait at Doncaster station.

Board the 22:47 Virgin Trains East Coast service to Newcastle.
Ticket used: Manchester Stations to Newcastle.You have reserved 2 seats in coach C: 04 (aisle, table)., 03 (window, table).
You'll arrive at Newcastle at 00:41

It is slightly difficult to understand how the raileasy journey planner managed to plan this journey, departing at 1655. The journey planner I’m looking at calls for you to have been on the 1621 to reach Newcastle at 0041.

I booked on the 29th of April. If I'd known in time I would have caught the 1621, but I had to work today as well so didn't have loads of time between finishing work and getting a cab to the station

 

[iantherev]

The lack of reservations before Church Stretton suggests to me that the times hadn’t been finally confirmed by 29th April. ATW trains on the Marches are often festooned with reservations, even for 1 station hops.

 

[aar0]

Get off the 1655 at Cardiff Central, then the 1800 rail replacement bus to Cwmbran which is due to arrive 1900.

From Cwmbran, take the 1921 to Manchester Piccadilly, arriving 2215.

Providing you're on time, you should make the 2222 to York, arriving there in time for the last VTEC to Newcastle.

My hand is going to be forced here, 1758 and we're still sitting outside Cardiff. Presumably I can't be made to wait for the next bus rather than head to Bristol?(!)

 

[aar0]

GWR service to London now also delayed, leaving the connection at Bristol Parkway tenuous... spoke to an Arriva bod who said to get on the GWR, and said I didn't need my ticket validating. Fingers crossed.

 

[JBuchananGB]

I hope by now you are on the 1840 ex Bristol Parkway which will get you to Birmingham New a Street, for connection onto 2030 departure to York, from where you will reach Newcastle at 0041 on your originally booked train.

 

[aar0]

I hope by now you are on the 1840 ex Bristol Parkway which will get you to Birmingham New a Street, for connection onto 2030 departure to York, from where you will reach Newcastle at 0041 on your originally booked train.

Just got into bristol parkway. 1910 to Manchester or 1940 to Birmingham are my options I believe.

 

[Trainfan344]

Will he be allowed to claim delay repay on this journey?

 

[aar0]

Whew. On the 1910. Guard was very understanding, and has put me in first! Newcastle eta 0214 I believe... nearly 10 hours of travelling!

 

[JBuchananGB]

Sorry, I was an hour out with my previous! What a nightmare. Every decision on the fly. What did you decide?

Either way could get you to Newcastle at 0213.

 

[yorkie]

Will he be allowed to claim delay repay on this journey?

Yes, of course.

The contract is formed at the time of booking, and a late arrival is measured against the original booked arrival time, as per the itinerary, which is evidence of that contract.

The claim should go to ATW. I would include a photograph of all tickets (and relevant coupons) and a PDF copy of my booking confirmation email. I would include details of the actual trains caught, in an easy to read tabular format. Keep the message concise.

If ATW refuse to pay up, then next steps are Transport Focus, and I am sure the retailer would be willing to assist too.

 

[aar0]

Awaiting my VTEC to kick in, yo. Got on the wrong TPE at Manchester initially, causing a sprint from platform 3 to 14... Just seen the sleeper heading north.

 

[Trainfan344]

You got there in the end...

 

[quarella]

You may use multiple tickets to make a journey (NRCoT 14.1). If you are unable to complete your journey on one day, but you should have been able to, then any train company in a position to do so must provide overnight accomodation and/or onward travel (NRCoT 28.2).

You are misquoting the NRCoT 28.2 which states.

28.2.
Where disruption prevents you from completing the journey for which your ticket
is valid and is being used, any Train Company will, where it reasonably can, provide
you with alternative means of travel to your destination, or if necessary provide
overnight accommodation for you

My bold. It does make a difference to the meaning.
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/National Rail Conditions of Travel.pdf

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

You are misquoting the NRCoT 28.2 which states.
My bold. It does make a difference to the meaning.
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/National Rail Conditions of Travel.pdf

Where is the difference? If it is a position to do so = where it reasonably can, will = must.

 

[quarella]

Where is the difference? If it is a position to do so = where it reasonably can, will = must.

I see where you are coming from. I am sure a lot of time was spent over the exact phrasing to avoid or at least lessen the chances of misinterpretation. "any train company in a position to do so must.." suggests that the transport/accommodation will be provided under any circumstances. "any train company will, where it reasonably can..." allows for those rare occasions it is not possible. The provision is dependent on taxi, coach operators or hotels being available.

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

I see where you are coming from. I am sure a lot of time was spent over the exact phrasing to avoid or at least lessen the chances of misinterpretation. "any train company in a position to do so must.." suggests that the transport/accommodation will be provided under any circumstances. "any train company will, where it reasonably can..." allows for those rare occasions it is not possible. The provision is dependent on taxi, coach operators or hotels being available.

Hence why I said 'in a position to do so'. The train companies could feasibly argue frustration of contract if they were completely unable to book accommodation or transport. This would likely only occur under extreme circumstances, such as the mini-blizzard this March.

 

[aar0]

You got there in the end...

I did indeed. Return journey went tits up for a different reason, the flooding around Birmingham means I'm not yet in Wales on an original arrival time of around 0040... did attempt to convince the staff at Birmingham to get us a hotel room, but instead we're in a cab from Bristol Parkway. That surely can't be value for money?

 

[yorkie]

. That surely can't be value for money?

Agreed but this is the railway.

I was once in a black cab that did Kings Cross - Sherburn - York - Ashton under Lyne. Hotels were rejected then too.

 

[gazthomas]

I can only bet you wondered why you didn't fly from Cardiff!

https://www.flybe.com/flights-from/cardiff

Timings slightly out I guess!

 

[Merseysider]

I did indeed. Return journey went tits up for a different reason, the flooding around Birmingham means I'm not yet in Wales on an original arrival time of around 0040... did attempt to convince the staff at Birmingham to get us a hotel room, but instead we're in a cab from Bristol Parkway. That surely can't be value for money?

Remember to claim Delay Repay

 

[aar0]

I can only bet you wondered why you didn't fly from Cardiff!

https://www.flybe.com/flights-from/cardiff

Timings slightly out I guess!

I'll give it a go next time - and I'll be claiming delay repay and, I think, having a bit of a go at XC for going for a cab rather than a hotel. I'm shattered!

Thanks very much for all your advice over the weekend