Advice: stuck in Preston

[curtly]

Sorry for starting a new thread and it can be deleted/moved into the disruption thread when answered - just rather urgent.

currently stuck in Preston on a journey from London to ulverston.
Do the TOC have to provide a taxi/hotel for us? If we pay for a taxi ourself can we claim it back? S.28.2 states this clearly but is that true in practice - especially because of the weather?

 

[Starmill]

Do the TOC have to provide a taxi/hotel for us?

Yes, but if you ask them to, they will probably tell you they don't.

If we pay for a taxi ourself can we claim it back?

Yes, but if you send them the bill, they will probably refuse to pay.

 

[yorkie]

If you are stranded, you should get alternative transport paid for you by a relevant train company.

I'd imagine they would arrange for alternative transport from Lancaster as trains do appear to be running as far as Lancaster.

If they refuse to provide any form of transport, obtain a receipt and request a refund but do not book anything yourself unless they are actually refusing.

 

[30907]

If you are stranded, you should get alternative transport paid for you by a relevant train company.

I'd imagine they would arrange for alternative transport from Lancaster as trains do appear to be running as far as Lancaster.

If they refuse to provide any form of transport, obtain a receipt and request a refund but do not book anything yourself unless they are actually refusing.

I can't see any sign of trains having run north of Preston since an 1818 to Barrow.
As the OP travelled against advice, I expect they will need to be persistent in getting to Ulverston or obtaining a refund

 

[yorkie]

There are Travelodges near Preston for tonight for £22 to 29

 

[Starmill]

As the OP travelled against advice, I expect they will need to be persistent in getting to Ulverston or obtaining a refund

Advice from Avanti West Coast was "Customers should travel only if necessary." rather than the advice from other companies which was "We are advising you not to travel today.", and this actually is reflected in the messages on the Avanti West Coast and LNER websites currently. I don't think it justifies a complete and total abandonment of travel assistance (has the company agreed to provide food and drink or overnight accommodation yet?).

 

[gray1404]

The train companies can issue as much advice as they want for passengers not to travel. However, for passengers that still need to travel, they are still obliged to assist customers who would otherwise be stranded if the train company is unable to run to their advertised timetable.

Nothing appeared to run North of Preston since that 1818 to Barrow. So, the OP needs to report back on what advise they were given by station staff. Any train company in a position to help passengers must. So it would not be unreasonable for them to provide alternative road transport or an overnight hotel. If doing the latter then an evening meal and breakfast would not be unreasonable.

If the station staff were unable to provide this (or get authorisation for such) the it need to be claimed back from the train company who failed to run the service.

 

[Bletchleyite]

There are Travelodges near Preston for tonight for £22 to 29

I'm actually quite surprised Travelodge didn't cash in on last night. Staying in Lancaster for 2 nights was actually my original plan, but as there are forecast 2 more days of high winds I did think getting home may be better, so cancelled it, but having found that to be near impossible I rebooked the same booking, which cost only three quid more than the original which was made weeks ago. The original was the flexible (no cancellation fee) rate, but I'm sure I recall that is to some extent yield managed based on how busy a given date is expected to be.

I wonder if they have so few staff that they can't actually manage that level of yield management? Did other hotels whack things right up to the rack rate[1] rather than leaving all the cheap deals in place?

[1] Because hotels can't legally charge more than the advertised rack rate, it is usually very high and is very rarely paid by anyone, a bit like IATA full fare singles on airlines.

 

[philthetube]

Nature is nature, anyone travelling yesterday should have been prepared to not arrive at their destination, the rail companies should not have to pay out to help people who gamble in these circumstances.

Before anyone says but, the world isnt perfect and everyone knew that there would be problems.

The more rail companies end up forking out the more likely they are to say forget it because of the forecast.

To be honest there was a good case for them to have a day off yesterday, anyone out in that weather was at risk of death from flying slates, trees etc and no journey is worth dying for.

 

[Bletchleyite]

To be honest there was a good case for them to have a day off yesterday, anyone out in that weather was at risk of death from flying slates, trees etc and no journey is worth dying for.

That was not the case in every part of the UK. In Lancaster it was just "a bit windy".

 

[Mag_seven]

I'm actually quite surprised Travelodge didn't cash in on last night. Staying in Lancaster for 2 nights was actually my original plan, but as there are forecast 2 more days of high winds I did think getting home may be better, so cancelled it, but having found that to be near impossible I rebooked the same booking, which cost only three quid more than the original which was made weeks ago. The original was the flexible (no cancellation fee) rate, but I'm sure I recall that is to some extent yield managed based on how busy a given date is expected to be.

I wonder if they have so few staff that they can't actually manage that level of yield management? Did other hotels whack things right up to the rack rate[1] rather than leaving all the cheap deals in place?

[1] Because hotels can't legally charge more than the advertised rack rate, it is usually very high and is very rarely paid by anyone, a bit like IATA full fare singles on airlines.

I don't think hotels should be allowed to "profiteer" at times of disruption. If a government body (such as the met office) advice is to stay put then there should be a ceiling on what hotels should be allowed to charge, based on the hotels classification. This rate should be well below the rack rate.

 

[trainophile]

It always surprises me that hotel accommodation can be found for perhaps large numbers of people at very short notice. Do the railways have some sort of hotline system for such occasions?

 

[Bletchleyite]

It always surprises me that hotel accommodation can be found for perhaps large numbers of people at very short notice. Do the railways have some sort of hotline system for such occasions?

It wouldn't be that hard to do using the likes of booking.com.

That said, airlines need that kind of service ("400 hotel rooms, don't mind which hotel") so much that I'm sure there are agencies specialising in it.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Nature is nature, anyone travelling yesterday should have been prepared to not arrive at their destination, the rail companies should not have to pay out to help people who gamble in these circumstances.

Before anyone says but, the world isnt perfect and everyone knew that there would be problems.

The more rail companies end up forking out the more likely they are to say forget it because of the forecast.

To be honest there was a good case for them to have a day off yesterday, anyone out in that weather was at risk of death from flying slates, trees etc and no journey is worth dying for.

You fall into the usual trap of 'everyone is at home and has 100% discretion on whether to set out'.
What is YOUR advice to people already away from home and wishing to return? They may have jobs to go to, caring responsibilities to attend to, personal medical problems needing attention ie medication, maybe they cannot afford another nights accommodation, there may not be accommodation available.

 

[Bletchleyite]

You fall into the usual trap of 'everyone is at home and has 100% discretion on whether to set out'.
What is YOUR advice to people already away from home and wishing to return? They may have jobs to go to, caring responsibilities to attend to, personal medical problems needing attention ie medication, maybe they cannot afford another nights accommodation, there may not be accommodation available.

And that is the big problem with a Sunday - it's mostly a "going home" day.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

It wouldn't be that hard to do using the likes of booking.com.

That said, airlines need that kind of service ("400 hotel rooms, don't mind which hotel") so much that I'm sure there are agencies specialising in it.

It's perhaps easier for airlines because most (large) airports have a supply of hotels nearby, serving the same air passengers. Indeed there is also a supply of shuttle buses and the like to call on to transport stranded passengers to those hotels.

Railways are obviously different with 2,500 plus locations at which individuals may require overnight assistance. Many of those 2,500 locations being unstaffed and often remote. Yesterday for example, EMR completely abandoned the Derby to Crewe service with no replacement provision. As per Lancaster it was a bit breezy and there was a short spell of very heavy rain - with very little damage evident on my 6 mile stroll around the villages this morning. Many of the intermediate stations on that line do not have a hotel remotely close by nor a taxi service of any kind to summon to get to any potential accommodation. You were fortunate being in Lancaster (PS did you get the screaming drunken idiots outside every hour through the night? I've stayed at that Travelodge twice, never again!) The OP would probably be OK finding something in Preston centre if that became necessary.

 

[Bletchleyite]

My room is round the back so no, but that's what you get for being right next to 'Spoons, useful though it is for breakfast!

Preston has tons of hotels and Sunday is by far the quietest night for town/city hotels as weekend trippers have gone home (or, as per yesterday, attempted to do so) and business travellers mostly not arrived yet.

That said, I believe the railway managed to "max them out" during a previous storm and ended up with people kipping in the booking office.

 

[sheff1]

To be honest there was a good case for them to have a day off yesterday, anyone out in that weather was at risk of death from flying slates, trees etc and no journey is worth dying for.

Good job I wore my tin foil hat then.

 

[trainophile]

Oh dear, I have got four nights Mon-Fri booked in Lancaster Travelodge for myself and a friend at the end of April. Is it likely to be bad during the week too? I wondered why we got such a cheap deal .

 

[packermac]

It's perhaps easier for airlines because most (large) airports have a supply of hotels nearby, serving the same air passengers. Indeed there is also a supply of shuttle buses and the like to call on to transport stranded passengers to those hotels.

Railways are obviously different with 2,500 plus locations at which individuals may require overnight assistance. Many of those 2,500 locations being unstaffed and often remote. Yesterday for example, EMR completely abandoned the Derby to Crewe service with no replacement provision. As per Lancaster it was a bit breezy and there was a short spell of very heavy rain - with very little damage evident on my 6 mile stroll around the villages this morning. Many of the intermediate stations on that line do not have a hotel remotely close by nor a taxi service of any kind to summon to get to any potential accommodation. You were fortunate being in Lancaster (PS did you get the screaming drunken idiots outside every hour through the night? I've stayed at that Travelodge twice, never again!) The OP would probably be OK finding something in Preston centre if that became necessary.

Yes one of my colleagues was responsible for aircrew hotel purchase and that included disruption agreements at our main airfields, although some times that meant Brighton for Heathrow.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Oh dear, I have got four nights Mon-Fri booked in Lancaster Travelodge for myself and a friend at the end of April. Is it likely to be bad during the week too? I wondered why we got such a cheap deal .

It's a Travelodge. It's the same as any other Travelodge. I haven't had the issues with it that the other poster did, though if the noise bothers you you could always request a room on the side away from the 'Spoons which is the source of any noise. I'd imagine the noise is less on a weekday anyway, more on a Friday or Saturday.

I generally prefer Premier Inns but the Lancaster one is a bit of a way out of town so not great for a rail traveller.

 

[iainbhx]

[1] Because hotels can't legally charge more than the advertised rack rate, it is usually very high and is very rarely paid by anyone, a bit like IATA full fare singles on airlines.

Have paid both, they are grim. Rack Rate in Frankfurt/Main during the Book Fair - the next year I commuted in from Mainz, much cheaper and so much nicer than Bankfurt. Work paid for that - nearly €700 a night for the room and this was about 15 years ago. IATA fare coming back from Madrid to London after other half's Dad had a heart attack - nearly £800 quid each, travel insurance eventually took care of that - again about 10 years ago.

 

[Blinkbonny]

Oh dear, I have got four nights Mon-Fri booked in Lancaster Travelodge for myself and a friend at the end of April. Is it likely to be bad during the week too? I wondered why we got such a cheap deal .

Have stayed there a number of times and have never had any problems with noise or anything else.

I'm sure it happens, but it's by no means inevitable.

 

[30907]

That was not the case in every part of the UK. In Lancaster it was just "a bit windy".

More than "a bit" rainy, though, which is what caused the problems in Lancashire and around Carlisle

 

[Bletchleyite]

More than "a bit" rainy, though, which is what caused the problems in Lancashire and around Carlisle

Indeed. But the "bit rainy" part was not a hazard to pedestrianism other than in specific areas near the river (and it's gone right down now, I went for a look earlier) unlike high winds elsewhere, which was the point I was answering.