Delay Repay - Two TOCs

[Ionic]

My Delay Repay claim has been rejected and I'm being passed between GWR and TFW.

On the 1st August I travelled between Exeter St Davids and Crewe on an Advance ticket. The first leg between Exeter St Davids and Newport was delayed, but I was still able to make the TFW connection as it was also delayed. However, this service stopped short at Hereford as a member of the train crew was taken ill. I then waited for the next service and arrived at my destination over 60 mins late.

At the moment, both TOCs are saying it is the other who should pay the compensation and I'm not sure who to persist with in terms of my Delay Repay claim. Is it GWR who delayed me initially (but not sufficiently for me to miss my connection) or TFW?

Many thanks.

 

[MrJeeves]

The first leg between Exeter St Davids and Newport was delayed, but I was still able to make the TFW connection as it was also delayed.

Would you have made the connection if TfW wasn't delayed?

The minimum connection time at Newport is 5 mins, so if GWR left you with less than 5 mins to the scheduled time of your TfW train, GWR should pay out. Otherwise, it should be TfW.

 

[Tazi Hupefi]

Would you have made the connection if TfW wasn't delayed?

The minimum connection time at Newport is 5 mins, so if GWR left you with less than 5 mins to the scheduled time of your TfW train, GWR should pay out. Otherwise, it should be TfW.

This isn't quite correct. Minimum connection time doesn't come into it.

Essentially the first TOC that causes your overall journey to be affected is the one liable. GWR had a delay but it was inconsequential in terms of your overall journey, as long as you caught your planned train from Newport. It is clearly a TfW claim.

Delay Repay is not based on hypothetical scenarios. You either did or didn't make the connecting train.

 

[Hadders]

This isn't quite correct. Minimum connection time doesn't come into it.

Essentially the first TOC that causes your overall journey to be affected is the one liable. GWR had a delay but it was inconsequential in terms of your overall journey, as long as you caught your planned train from Newport. It is clearly a TfW claim.

Delay Repay is not based on hypothetical scenarios. You either did or didn't make the connecting train.

Technically what you are saying is correct although I ecpect it to be dealt with in the way @Krokodil describes.

I recently made a journey from Stevenage to Aberdeen, changing between LNER trains at Doncaster and from LNER to Scotrail at Edinburgh.

The train from Stevenage to Doncaster was delayed such that the difference between arrival and departure was less than the minimum connection time. It was a same platform interchange so I made the connection with ease (even having time to visit the gents and the on-platform Costa kiosk).

I arrived at Edinburgh on-time and the Scotrail train left on time but unfortunately it was delayed by 30 minutes en-route. I calaimed delay repay from Scotrail who forwarded the claim to LNER. I appealed saying that the connection at Doncaster was made and that the delay was Scotrail's fault. They were having none of it and said LNER needed to pay up.

To their credit LNER paid out without quibble.

 

[Ionic]

Thank you for your comments.

The connection time at Newport was 7 mins.

After TfW rejected my appeal, GWR have now accepted the appeal and will pay 100% delay repay. This was the opposite of what I thought would happen...

 

[MrJeeves]

As I expected. DR on paper is about what happens in reality, but in practice it's easier for the TOCs to simply base it off of what a replacement itinerary would be (i.e., adhering to the minimum connection times).

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Sep 2023 ==

The connection time at Newport was 7 mins.

Wait what...? Nevermind then.