Advice re. WCML probs today

[Keele13]

Hi,

Thought I'd post in here rather than on the main thread about the derailment near Bletchley.

I am booked on the 2053 Stoke-on-Trent to London Euston service this evening (on a First Advance Single). Hopefully the problems will be sorted out by then, but if not I would need to consider my options.

My main concern is, would I be able to start my journey earlier than booked? If I start at 2053 I would not make a connection to London in Derby (I'd have to get the 2118 to Derby). I could get the 2107 to Birmingham but there are no trains from anywhere but New Street by the time I'd arrive there, so I wouldn't be any better off than being at Stoke.

Any advice much appreciated - if my train looks like it will run I will of course just get that as planned, I'm not trying to wangle my way on to an earlier train if everything gets sorted, but I don't want to get stranded in Stoke (I have an appointment in London tomorrow) so would like to have a few options up my sleeve if needed!

Thank you.

 

[shinkansen1966]

This alternative route diagram will help
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/passenger_services/maps/divroutes/VT_From_Euston.pdf

Use this conjuntion with advance search options on National Rail.
http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/planjourney/search

As for taking an earlier train, ask at Stoke on Trent station or call East Midlands Train.

 

[Keele13]

Ok, my train is now showing up as 'cancelled' on NRE. Is there any chance this will change? Otherwise going via Derby is the only real alternative by the looks of things.

So, a couple more questions.

1. As my Virgin ticket is for First Class, would East Midlands trains accommodate me in First Class too for the Derby-St Pancras route?

2. If I decide now that I don't want to travel, but later the problems get fixed, would I still be entitled to a refund? For example, if I saw a cheap coach fare and wanted to book it now before it sold out, I'd do so on the assumption I'd get my £30 back from Virgin, but if it turns out I could have travelled, would they deny the refund, even though at the moment the train is cancelled?

 

[headshot119]

Taken from NRE

Ticket Acceptance

Passengers may use:

    * East Midlands Trains between Manchester Piccadilly / Derby / Leicester / Luton Airport Parkway and London St Pancras International
    * Chiltern Railways between Birmingham and London Marylebone
    * Northern Rail between Stockport and Sheffield
    * CrossCountry between Stafford and Reading, Tamworth and Derby, Nuneaton and Leicester
    * First Great Western between Reading and London Paddington
    * East Coast on reasonable routes
    * First Capital Connect on reasonable routes
    * London Overground on reasonable routes
    * Grand Central between Doncaster / York and London Kings Cross
    * London Underground on reasonable routes
    * First TransPennine Express services on reasonable routes


Virgin Trains passengers who decide not to travel today may use their ticket for travel tomorrow, Saturday 4 February 2012.

 

[John @ home]

Ok, my train is now showing up as 'cancelled' on NRE. Is there any chance this will change?

There is a small chance the train may be re-instated, but that will not affect the historical fact that it has been cancelled. You are entitled to act in accordance with the First Advance ticket conditions, and claim a full refund. For extra assurance, you may wish to print a screenshot showing the train has been cancelled.

Advance ticket terms and conditions

If the train you purchased a ticket for is cancelled or delayed by more than 60 minutes, special arrangements will be made to accommodate you on another train (although a seat cannot be guaranteed). If, as a result, you decide not to travel, a refund will be offered on completely unused tickets and you will not be charged an administration fee.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/advance_conditions.html

going via Derby is the only real alternative by the looks of things.

I agree that is the best option by rail available today for a Stoke-on-Trent to London journey.

As my Virgin ticket is for First Class, would East Midlands trains accommodate me in First Class too for the Derby-St Pancras route?

I would not anticipate any difficulty. If challenged, point out that the First Advance ticket conditions do not allow you to travel in any other class of accommodation. You may wish to print and carry a copy.

Advance ticket terms and conditions

Where applicable, you must travel in the Class and reserved seat(s) shown on the ticket(s).

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/advance_conditions.html

If I decide now that I don't want to travel, but later the problems get fixed, would I still be entitled to a refund?

Yes, see above. It is a historical fact that the train has been cancelled.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

The advance fare conditions also say they have to sit in the seat allocated and on the train indicated and we know that isn't possible!

The fact that another TOC is helping out at all should be good enough, and whilst I suspect in most cases the traveller would be conveyed in the accommodation they originally paid for, in some cases that doesn't happen and when it doesn't, imo, telling the guard that you've paid to travel in the first class accomodation of another TOC is not going to make your journey any smoother.

 

[reb0118]

East Coast were accepting Virgin tickets today. First Class Virgin ticket holders were able to use first on EC. I'm sure EMT would do likewise.

The first I knew about it was when a good few passengers with GLC - EUS tickets turned up on my Edinburgh - Glasgow shuttle. A quick look on the blackberry and all was revealed. Their tickets were then accepted without question & timetable info dished out as required. Not an ideal situation for the passengers but it did show lots of TOCs working together to make it a bit better. Just goes to show we can co-operate if we put a mind to it!

 

[tgsh2011]

Had no problem travelling on my LM 1st Advance on EC to Leeds then TPE to Manchester. Travelled in 1st and got full complimentary offers on both trains!

 

[AlterEgo]

Had no problem travelling on my LM 1st Advance on EC to Leeds then TPE to Manchester. Travelled in 1st and got full complimentary offers on both trains!

Indeed, and that is what should happen. ATOC have a code of practice which details customers in first class should be given the full complimentary offering, even when travelling on a differed TOC in times of disruption.

 

[tgsh2011]

Indeed, and that is what should happen. ATOC have a code of practice which details customers in first class should be given the full complimentary offering, even when travelling on a differed TOC in times of disruption.

Quite interesting about ATOC! About a year ago there was major disruption to LM and VT accepted tickets. I was refused the complimentary offer on VT for having a LM ticket! Some months later the VT Twitter team confirmed offer should be given; however, on they day was made to feel small and treated like a scrounger!

 

[dvboy]

Quite interesting about ATOC! About a year ago there was major disruption to LM and VT accepted tickets. I was refused the complimentary offer on VT for having a LM ticket! Some months later the VT Twitter team confirmed offer should be given; however, on they day was made to feel small and treated like a scrounger!

That's good considering the difference between 1st on LM and 1st on VT!

 

[Keele13]

Thanks for the advice all - I decided not to travel in the end because, to be frank, I'd had a long week and couldn't face standing at Derby station for hours in the freezing cold!

Now I've got to battle with Virgin's automated telephone system (how many menus does one system need?) to speak so someone about a refund.