Delay Repay & Open Access Operators

[Bill57p9]

Hypothetical query here. Does Delay Repay apply to Open Access Operators or just TOCs?
If a journey covered both OA & TOC, would Delay Repay apply, in the same way it does for connections across TOCs?

This is a hypothetical question, rather than something that has happened to me, however something came up on the Caledonian Sleeper (mega)thread about connecting from CS to the Jacobite at Fort William that got me wondering.

(And I presume that the Jacobite comes under OA rather than charter since it is advertised in the public timetable, but maybe I am wrong).

 

[Alex365Dash]

Does Delay Repay apply to Open Access Operators or just TOCs?

It covers any operator listed under Appendix A of the National Rail Conditions of Travel. This includes Grand Central and Hull Trains, but excludes West Coast Railways (and other OAOs).

If a journey covered both OA & TOC, would Delay Repay apply, in the same way it does for connections across TOCs?

Yes.

something came up on the Caledonian Sleeper (mega)thread about connecting from CS to the Jacobite at Fort William that got me wondering.

It’s probably worth mentioning that if you miss your connection at Fort William to the Jacobite, your ticket isn’t valid for use on other services or a refund as detailed by West Coast Railway’s Booking Conditions:

It is your responsibility and that of your party to be at your boarding point in good time before the train’s departure. Refunds cannot be entertained if you fail to meet this requirement.

 

[Watershed]

It covers any operator listed under Appendix A of the National Rail Conditions of Travel. This includes Grand Central and Hull Trains, but excludes West Coast Railways (and other OAOs).

To expand on that, the NRCoT establish a minimum entitlement of 50% compensation for a 1+ hour delay, regardless of the cause. This might be classed as 'delay compensation'

Operators are free to set more generous policies (e.g. 'Delay Repay', providing compensation for delays of 15+ or 30+ minutes) - but are under no obligation to do so.

Any Delay Repay-type policy may be subject to additional conditions - for example, TfL Rail and London Overground only provide compensation for 30+ minute delays if the journey is entirely within the PAYG area, and the delay is not outside their control.

 

[Bill57p9]

Thank you for your responses.

Bottom line on the Jacobite is that it is the punters risk.

 

[bb21]

Hypothetical query here. Does Delay Repay apply to Open Access Operators or just TOCs?

Delay Repay applies only to operators who are part of the scheme. Whether an operator offers Delay Repay is not conditional on whether the operator is franchised or not. Chiltern do not operate Delay Repay, nor do Grand Central, or the two TfL concessions. Chiltern offer a very similar scheme but GC's is notably less generous, although as Watershed said they all must offer a minimum level of compensation in line with NRCoT.

Operators under Delay Repay will all offer the same level of compensation for delays over 30 minutes, with some offering an additional band between 15 and 29 minutes.

If a journey covered both OA & TOC, would Delay Repay apply, in the same way it does for connections across TOCs?

Compensation level will depend on the type of scheme under which the operator who caused you disruption on your journey belongs. You wouldn't be able to choose the operator with the more generous scheme. It can't just be answered with a simple "yes" or "no".

 

[AlterEgo]

Thank you for your responses.

Bottom line on the Jacobite is that it is the punters risk.

Correct, and your only real remediation is the Consumer Rights Act 2015.