Advance Single purchased and train cancelled.

[Tallguy]

I’m going to Birmingham from High Wycombe via Chiltern on the 31st of March. good deals on advance singles at the moment and `I will buy 2 of those as it’s cheaper than a return ticket. However, if my train is cancelled will and AS ticket allow me to travel on the next train or an earlier train? Or would it depend on how much notice is given for the cancellation Etc? I need to go to Birmingham on that day and with strikes on either side I’m a bit nervous about the trains being canned.

 

[Watershed]

You would automatically be entitled to take the next train complying with the ticket's route or operator restrictions. In this case that would likely be the next Chiltern service.

TOCs generally also have a policy of allowing you to take the preceding service.

The amount of notice given for the cancellation is immaterial; either way if your booked train is no longer running, you obviously can't take it!

You can take a look at yesterday's (Friday) or Sunday's timetables to get an idea of the service that will likely be running on that date. It's also possible that a more intensive service might be planned or that the strikes are called off (with enough notice to reinstate a full timetable).

 

[Railguy1]

I am in the same position as you but already purchased my ticket and the train was cancelled. Thanks for the advice @Watershed. I will try getting on an earlier train if possible, otherwise I will have a meal before getting the next train.

 

[LYuen]

Happened to me with LNER. The guard allowed me to take the previous service.
Turned out to be a bad idea - it was on the day cancellation and as a result I couldn't claim delay repay since I arrived early.

 

[Tallguy]

I can’t get to Birmingham late so would have to take the earlier train, assuming it actually runs…..

 

[Ivor]

You would automatically be entitled to take the next train complying with the ticket's route or operator restrictions. In this case that would likely be the next Chiltern service.

TOCs generally also have a policy of allowing you to take the preceding service.

The amount of notice given for the cancellation is immaterial; either way if your booked train is no longer running, you obviously can't take it!

I didn’t want to start a new thread so I’ve jumped in on this one as I have a dilemma where I have an Advanced Senior day return this coming Weds 8:12 Arundel to London Victoria.

Dirt cheap the outward (& return) timed travel £3.95 each way but with the ‘ASLEF situation’ my outward has been chopped. I need to be around the corner at Victoria station for a medical appointment at 10:00 & this train was going to arrive at 9:45

The train before had an outbound fare of over £38 (peak) & the later train gets me there too late so this morning I call Southern Customer Services asking what are my options as I don’t want to get fined etc & I know normally I can get the next later one (no good to me)

They put me through to National Rail customer service & with the guy back & forth for advice tells me I can get the earlier train (peak) & just explain to the OBS that due to current ‘ASLEF issues’ it shouldn’t be a problem…..shouldn’t isn’t good enough for me for obvious reasons.

Let alone the Gateline exit at Victoria won’t let me out (another problem)

The so called advice I’ve been given I have no confidence in, any advice from forum members in the know would be gratefully received.

 

[Sonic1234]

Let alone the Gateline exit at Victoria won’t let me out (another problem)

This is Southern (GTR) policy to block Advance tickets at their gates, the idea being that they manually check you are using (have used) the ticket correctly. Practically, they usually see you have a bit of orange paper and wave you through. A few of the On Trak agency staff do check the ticket - they can be more diligent than the GTR staff (on the other hand, some barely look up from their phone). This policy is a pain.

In your situation, you have been told you can get the earlier train by customer services. Southern OBSs are generally permissive about such situations. If they are insistent you need to buy a new ticket, I would do so, keep all tickets then make a complaint after. If you want to be sure before boarding, find the OBS (they usually look out one of the doors at the station) and explain you need to take this train because your booked train has been cancelled, if they say it is ok you have permission to use that service.