Area Tickets in Disruption

[trainJam]

Luckily I haven't run into a major problem whilst using an area ticket yet, so this is mostly hypothetical but good to know.

The first scenario is about holding a combination of an area ticket (e.g. ranger, daytripper) and advance ticket when there is disruption when roaming around the area that the area ticket covers.

To give some specific examples:
- Advance single from Birmingham New Street to Liverpool Lime Street and another advance single to get home from Liverpool Lime Street to Birmingham New Street. With Mersey area ticket (this could be either the superior Saveaway or the northwirrallines day saver) to ride around the system all day, then catch the booked train home.
- Birmingham New Street using 2 advance singles and purchasing a Network Daytripper or West Midlands Day Ranger.
- Glasgow using 2 advance singles and purchasing a Strathclyde Roundabout.

Assume that at least the minimum connection time at the origin of the advance is left on the return.

1. Suppose, due to disruption whilst roaming (in this case on Merseyrail), I miss my booked train home. Would I still be protected (ie not have to pay a new fare) in the same way as if I were not using an area ticket?
2. How would I explain my circumstances to staff or inspectors to resolve this situation? I wouldn't be able to state a proper "origin" station.
3. Would I be entitled to compensation:
a. If the delay was on a National Rail (e.g. Merseyrail) operator?
b. If the delay was on another mode of transport (e.g. Bus, Ferry, Tram (WM))?
c. and similar to 2, what would I put as the origin?
4. If the area ticket is bought on a separate day to when the advance tickets were booked (e.g. on arrival into Liverpool/Birmingham) does this change anything?

A second, similar scenario is a day travelcard return from outside of London - in this case, the advance problem is removed so my main concern would be missing the last train of the day. For instance, suppose I have a Birmingham to London Zones 1-6 travelcard. Due to transport disruption, I am prevented from reaching my London terminal before the last train departs. Again, assume I planned to leave the minimum connection (although it might be harder to calculate in London). I usually do plan to arrive half to a whole hour prior.

5. Would I be protected in this case (or would I be stranded)?
6. Same as 2.
7. Same as 3, with the obvious example of Tube (including Elizabeth Line in core) for part b.

 

[Hadders]

1. Suppose, due to disruption whilst roaming (in this case on Merseyrail), I miss my booked train home. Would I still be protected (ie not have to pay a new fare) in the same way as if I were not using an area ticket?

Yes, but see below.

2. How would I explain my circumstances to staff or inspectors to resolve this situation? I wouldn't be able to state a proper "origin" station.

I would make sure you could quote a specific journey. For example, say you were travelling around on the Merseyrail network I'd pick a station and make sure I caught a train from that station, at a specific time that met the minimum connection time for my Advance ticket home from Lime Street.

3. Would I be entitled to compensation:
a. If the delay was on a National Rail (e.g. Merseyrail) operator?

Yes, you'd be entitled to compensation based on the total journey made (as per my comment above) as long as it met the delay repay threshold (normally 15 or 30 minutes depending on the train operator. Note that Merseyrail do not operate Delay Repay, only compensation under the industry arrangements as per the NRCoT.

b. If the delay was on another mode of transport (e.g. Bus, Ferry, Tram (WM))?

You would not be entitled to delay repay compensation.

c. and similar to 2, what would I put as the origin?

See answer to qiestion 2

4. If the area ticket is bought on a separate day to when the advance tickets were booked (e.g. on arrival into Liverpool/Birmingham) does this change anything?

No it doesn't.

A second, similar scenario is a day travelcard return from outside of London - in this case, the advance problem is removed so my main concern would be missing the last train of the day. For instance, suppose I have a Birmingham to London Zones 1-6 travelcard. Due to transport disruption, I am prevented from reaching my London terminal before the last train departs. Again, assume I planned to leave the minimum connection (although it might be harder to calculate in London). I usually do plan to arrive half to a whole hour prior.

5. Would I be protected in this case (or would I be stranded)?

You would be covered as long as you'd left the appropriate connection time. I'd use the same strategy as in question 2 - pick a station and maybe use a journey planner like FastJP to work out the latest train you need to catch from that station. You could even take a short break at that station to helpo show it was a separate journey.

6. Same as 2.

See my answer to Question 2

7. Same as 3, with the obvious example of Tube (including Elizabeth Line in core) for part b.

You'd receive delay compensation if you are delayed by a National Rail service (which includes London Overground and Elizabeth Line). Note that London Overground and Elizabeth Line pay compensation based on the less generous industry scheme. London Underground normally pay the coost of a single underground journey if you are delayed for 30 minutes ot more.

 

[trainJam]

Thanks for explaining it all!