Different route due to strike

[dvboy]

Hi all, not posted here for a long time but in need of some advice and appreciate that train companies have yet to determine their strike day timetables.

I have an advance to travel from Liverpool to Birmingham on Friday 12 May bought before strike action was announced for that date. I can't changed my plans and travel Saturday instead of Friday.
It's possible instead to do a journey using Merseyrail and TFW via Chester and Shrewsbury, as those companies are not striking. There are reasonably priced advance fares available for this longer route which are a little more expensive than what I've paid.
Would my LNR ticket be valid on the other operators due to the disruption caused by the strike, or should I look into buying a new ticket and asking LNR for the refund?

 

[87015]

TfW are very unlikely to run to Bham, will cape at Salop/Wolves as per previous as can't carry everyone elses passengers too.

 

[dvboy]

TfW are very unlikely to run to Bham, will cape at Salop/Wolves as per previous as can't carry everyone elses passengers too.

If it's Wolves then I can cope with that.

 

[185]

I seem to remember (on principle) TfW weren't carrying the striking English TOCs passengers not too long ago, it might be worth asking their social media account on Twitter what the score is before venturing out.

(I got the impression their exec view was kinda like - we've paid up and sorted our dispute out like adults, why should we bail the Westminster Govt & DfT's mess out for free?)

 

[gray1404]

Hi all, not posted here for a long time but in need of some advice and appreciate that train companies have yet to determine their strike day timetables.

I have an advance to travel from Liverpool to Birmingham on Friday 12 May bought before strike action was announced for that date. I can't changed my plans and travel Saturday instead of Friday.
It's possible instead to do a journey using Merseyrail and TFW via Chester and Shrewsbury, as those companies are not striking. There are reasonably priced advance fares available for this longer route which are a little more expensive than what I've paid.
Would my LNR ticket be valid on the other operators due to the disruption caused by the strike, or should I look into buying a new ticket and asking LNR for the refund?

If I were you I would book onto the National Express service from Liverpool to Birmingham. It normally only takes 2 ish hours and cuts out all this possible railway bother.

 

[dvboy]

I seem to remember (on principle) TfW weren't carrying the striking English TOCs passengers not too long ago, it might be worth asking their social media account on Twitter what the score is before venturing out.

(I got the impression their exec view was kinda like - we've paid up and sorted our dispute out like adults, why should we bail the Westminster Govt & DfT's mess out for free?)

TfW website has been updated and seems to suggest they are running a full normal service, although expect their routes that cross into England to be busy due to strike action at other operators.

Having seen I can already get a refund from Avanti (where I booked my original LNR ticket) before any strike timetable is even confirmed, I've gone for that, and then booked the available advance from Chester to Birmingham on TfW with a seat reservation, the thinking being it shouldn't be too busy before Shrewsbury, and with a ticket I now have a contract to be carried to Birmingham by TfW rather than relying on any ticket acceptance. A Merseyrail Day Saver ticket will get me to Chester and the total for both is just a couple of quid more than what I'm getting back.

If I were you I would book onto the National Express service from Liverpool to Birmingham. It normally only takes 2 ish hours and cuts out all this possible railway bother.

The coach option, at the time of day I need to travel, was even more expensive than the above option.