Coventry - Chester - Wednesday 3 August at 16:43

[parkender102]

Daughter has an Advance Single (Only Valid on Booked Avanti West Coast Services and required connecting services) travelling Coventry - Chester today 16:43 (Avanti) change at Crewe for Chester. She's had a Text from Trainline saying the 16:43 Coventry to Crewe is cancelled. So I assume she can just use the next Avanti Service 17:11 to Rugby 17:22 and then Rugby 17:49 - Crewe 18:42 and then pick up the next ATW 19:24 to Chester.

However she can take the 16:43 Avanti West Coast service to Birmingham International 16:53 (which is strangely the train she was originally getting but is supposed to be cancelled) and then get the direct ATW Chester Train at 17:06 arriving Chester 19:21 which would be far better. So 2 questions - 1) would the ticket be valid on this train (I assume it could be classed as a connecting service) 2) Is the 16:43 train only cancelled at later stops such as Crewe and Warrington Bank Quay?

All very confusing! Any advice gratefully received.

 

[Surreytraveller]

I would double check the information Trainline has sent you. They're not known for their reliable information, as they are not part of the industry

 

[parkender102]

Yes I have tried to push the kids away from Trainline but because it's so easy to book tickets on the App they all use it! I've double checked the Trains on the National Rail Website and the 16:43 is showing as cancelled for journeys to Crewe and beyond but still running for journeys as far as Wolverhampton.

 

[Watershed]

The 16:43 is cancelled north of Wolverhampton. Avanti's JourneyCheck is probably the best way of finding out about this sort of thing.

Your daughter can take either itinerary. "& Connections" tickets effectively have no TOC restrictions so, during disruption, de facto become Any Permitted.

 

[parkender102]

The 16:43 is cancelled north of Wolverhampton. Avanti's JourneyCheck is probably the best way of finding out about this sort of thing.

Your daughter can take either itinerary. "& Connections" tickets effectively have no TOC restrictions so, during disruption, de facto become Any Permitted.

Excellent - thanks for that. I'll check Realtime Trains etc later to ensure the Chester Train is scheduled as running on time so she isn't stranded at Birmingham International.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Aug 2022 ==

This journey is jinxed! Now the alternative Avanti Service 17:11 to Rugby 17:22 has been cancelled..............

I assume if this option was taken due then tickets would be valid on Cross Country, London North Western Railway services etc?

 

[Deafdoggie]

I would double check the information Trainline has sent you. They're not known for their reliable information, as they are not part of the industry

But it uses data the industry provides. So if it's wrong it's not their fault! However, at least they let you know it's cancelled. Most (all?) TOCs don't bother to tell you. This is why people use Trainline.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

So, did the OP's daughter actually make it to Chester?

 

[parkender102]

Yes she made it - however the course she was on finished early so she ended up paying extra for an earlier train - 15:43 Coventry - Crewe (Avanti Edinburgh service - rammed as usual) - Crewe - Chester. Strangely the 16:43 Avanti when I checked ended up running to Crewe when initially Trainline had texted saying it was cancelled after Wolverhampton. Not sure if she received a text from Trainline notifying of this non-cancellation.

 

[alistairlees]

I would double check the information Trainline has sent you. They're not known for their reliable information, as they are not part of the industry

Retailers (both independent and train operators) and information providers are all using the same info train running info, though it’s always possible to interpret it differently, or recommend different alternatives, when you have a complex set of data as you do here. Trainline were correct here.

 

[Birmingham]

Yes she made it - however the course she was on finished early so she ended up paying extra for an earlier train - 15:43 Coventry - Crewe (Avanti Edinburgh service - rammed as usual) - Crewe - Chester. Strangely the 16:43 Avanti when I checked ended up running to Crewe when initially Trainline had texted saying it was cancelled after Wolverhampton. Not sure if she received a text from Trainline notifying of this non-cancellation.

Why did your daughter have to pay extra?

 

[parkender102]

Why did your daughter have to pay extra?

The original ticket was an Advance (Booked Train Only for the 16:43) so because she changed it to the earlier 15:43 train there was a fee.

 

[Starmill]

The original ticket was an Advance (Booked Train Only for the 16:43) so because she changed it to the earlier 15:43 train there was a fee.

There's no fee or additional fare due for changing your journey if one of your trains is cancelled. If the fee was paid on trainline it would be possible to write to them and ask for a refund.

 

[Haywain]

There's no fee or additional fare due for changing your journey if one of your trains is cancelled. If the fee was paid on trainline it would be possible to write to them and ask for a refund.

I’m guessing it was done at the station and the original booked train was shown as running by then.

 

[parkender102]

Yes that was the case - although notified by text that the train was cancelled it changed during the day to running as far as Crewe. Although she changed her ticket without knowledge of this it might be worth a request for a refund.

 

[Birmingham]

I’m guessing it was done at the station and the original booked train was shown as running by then.

In this circumstance OP I would certainly write to the customer services of the company your daughter bought the ticket from for a refund of the additional fare and fee paid.