StratfordP
Member
Yesterday I took a day trip to Folkestone from Stratford International. It was an extremely hot day and so high speed trains were jam packed (I actually initially planned to go to Margate but couldn’t board a train so changed our plan to folkestone by buying a Ashford Intl to Folkestone ticket). They were only running 6 car trains past Ashford International.
On the way back, we were not allowed onto the platform for our planned train (to Stratford International) and were advised by gate staff to return 20 minutes early for the next train to have a hope of getting on the next train.
As I arrived at the platform, the platform was already packed and we felt I had little hope of getting on the next one either, but a relatively empty Charing Cross train arrived (with seats!) - so I got on (also slightly nervous I might actually get stranded for the night if we waited to get on the last two trains back via high speed)
I duly, and probably entirely excessively, bought an additional single Ashford Intl to London Bridge ticket online as the train pulled in to Ashford Intl (an extra £20 on top of the £28 off peak day return, bought with network railcard).
As we pulled out of Ashford I saw and asked the guard if I could in fact excess the fare to London Bridge and he said that it wasn’t possible, they are “entirely different lines” and the only thing he could do would be something that would cost me “hundreds of pounds” and so he’d prefer I tried my luck at the gates. (I didn’t mention the Ashford Intl to London Bridge ticket I had just bought). So I’ve got three questions:
It seems absurd that when the train company cannot guarantee boarding onto a train, we cannot find reasonable alternative routes to our destination without a substantial additional cost.
sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for any pointers (as this is likely to be a relatively regular journey for me)
On the way back, we were not allowed onto the platform for our planned train (to Stratford International) and were advised by gate staff to return 20 minutes early for the next train to have a hope of getting on the next train.
As I arrived at the platform, the platform was already packed and we felt I had little hope of getting on the next one either, but a relatively empty Charing Cross train arrived (with seats!) - so I got on (also slightly nervous I might actually get stranded for the night if we waited to get on the last two trains back via high speed)
I duly, and probably entirely excessively, bought an additional single Ashford Intl to London Bridge ticket online as the train pulled in to Ashford Intl (an extra £20 on top of the £28 off peak day return, bought with network railcard).
As we pulled out of Ashford I saw and asked the guard if I could in fact excess the fare to London Bridge and he said that it wasn’t possible, they are “entirely different lines” and the only thing he could do would be something that would cost me “hundreds of pounds” and so he’d prefer I tried my luck at the gates. (I didn’t mention the Ashford Intl to London Bridge ticket I had just bought). So I’ve got three questions:
- Is there really no way to excess a ticket labelled “also valid on southeastern high speed”?
- Is there a legitimate route to Stratford International that is not on high speed with this ticket?
- am I eligible for delay repay for having been turned away at the barriers initially?
It seems absurd that when the train company cannot guarantee boarding onto a train, we cannot find reasonable alternative routes to our destination without a substantial additional cost.
sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for any pointers (as this is likely to be a relatively regular journey for me)
