Being charged extra due to engineering works?

[Steve31]

Hey all,

So for a while now I do the Hereford to Salisbury route on average once every 4 weeks. The train goes to Newport, changes once and then direct to Salisbury costing me just around the £52 mark for an open return.

In August I need to travel to Salisbury a few times, however throughout the whole of August, they are closing 1 of the lines around bath to do some work to it meaning a lot of services are disrupted.

For me it's nothing short of a con. I 100% need to travel to Salisbury at least once in August, however there are no trains at all that do my usual route that month.

The only train services that are from Hereford to Salisbury in August are:

Hereford - Newport - Swindon - Salisbury (2 changes, about an hour longer journey)

Hereford - Reading - Basingstoke - Salisbury (2 changes, more than an hour longer journey)

Worse still is the price. Since those routes involve different train providers the cost for an open return is £75.... £23 more than I usually pay and for a longer journey with an extra change.

In terms of departure station and the station I want to get to, I am being ripped off.

What can I do?

How likely is it that national rail will do something if I contacted them? Such as reducing the ticket price to slightly less than what I would normally pay for the added inconvenience?


Thanks in advance

 

[theblackwatch]

It is still possible to get the £51.90 ticket (which is 'VIA BATH SPA'), and travel that route, but you will need to travel on a Rail Replacement Bus from Bath Spa to Westbury. See attached screengrab.

 

[furlong]

During engineering works, it is normal practice for normal tickets at normal prices to be valid additionally on the specified diversionary routes. In this particular case, First Great Western is also adjusting off-peak time restrictions (in favour of the passenger) to take account of the longer journey times and offering a discount to season ticket holders.

Unfortunately it is also common for timetable and fares websites to show incorrect journey options in these circumstances for all sorts of technical reasons.

Check the First Great Western website nearer the time.

 

[hangus78]

It looks like an easement must have been put in place as I am getting offered the £51.90 via Bath Spa off peak return on the FGW site now during the works.

If you really really like rail replacement bus services you can also add avoid Swindon to your search to force them out but I'm not sure why anyone would want to do that!