Disabled Ticket - Question

[dickdarlington]

Hello

Hoping you can help. My other half has a disabled persons railcard. With all of the disruption today, she has made it to Newcastle on a coach where the people have ushered onto a coach without her being able to buy a ticket.

I've told her not to get a ticket just yet because if the weather worsens, she'll not make it back, or I will have to go and get her.

So now she will only need a single tonight once she's finished work (weather dependent). When she'll get to Newc station this evening, the ticket office will be shut, and the machines don't sell disabled persons tickets. Will she be able to get a ticket on the train? Or does she have to purchase in advance for disabled tickets?

Your help is appreciated.

 

[Bungle73]

and the machines don't sell disabled persons tickets.

Are you sure about that? Every TVM I've ever used does.

 

[reb0118]

.............My other half has a disabled persons railcard. When she'll get to Newcastle station this evening, the ticket office will be shut, and the machines don't sell disabled persons tickets..................

Most TVMs, if not all, sell railcard discounted tickets including Disabled Person's ones.

..........Will she be able to get a ticket on the train?...........

Not if the barriers are in operation, are you sure the booking office will be shut? I'll check the opening times and post back. The information for Newcastle station is here. Looks like the office shuts at 21:20 - I thought a main station's office would be open to the last departure or at least 23:00. Still the TVMs don't close and there will be staff about to advise.

 

[yorkie]

Is she on East Coast? They sell disabled Railcard discounted fares on board.

Not sure about XC/TPE/NT.

 

[dickdarlington]

She gets to the station about 9.30pm.

The machines at Newc are rather old. Button press rather than touch screen.

The train she normally gets is a TPE (21.44 - I think)

I'll advise her to ask someone.

 

[maniacmartin]

So now she will only need a single tonight once she's finished work

Surely she will need a return, because a single won't also cover the journey she has made this morning

 

[wintonian]

These or these ticket machines at Newcastle should be able to sell disabled railcard tickets and are touch screen.

 

[dickdarlington]

I get the impression from what she's told me that the were not fussed about collecting fares/tickets because of the delays and the claims people would be putting in. Also, why if you've travelled for free (when you've tried to pay for a ticket) would you get a return???
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Quick update. After being to Central station. The staff have advised not to buy a ticket as they don't think there will be any trains.

Out of interest. If you buy a day ticket, do the train companies have the obligation to get you home???

 

[cuccir]

I get the impression from what she's told me that the were not fussed about collecting fares/tickets because of the delays and the claims people would be putting in. Also, why if you've travelled for free (when you've tried to pay for a ticket) would you get a return???
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Quick update. After being to Central station. The staff have advised not to buy a ticket as they don't think there will be any trains.

Out of interest. If you buy a day ticket, do the train companies have the obligation to get you home???

Only if the delay is something within their control - flooding would not be covered by this.

 

[wintonian]

S. 42 - 45 of the NCoC state that they are only obliged to get you to your destination if the reason for the delay is within their control. As far as I know there is no obligation for them to get you home even if the delay is within their control, only to the destination printed on your ticket.

 

[dickdarlington]

Only if the delay is something within their control - flooding would not be covered by this.

Fair enough.

Currently looks like I'm going to have to go and get her then.

 

[34D]

Fair enough.

Currently looks like I'm going to have to go and get her then.

I suggest she goes to the station when she finishes work as normal. A lot could have changed in a few hours

 

[DaveNewcastle]

She gets to the station about 9.30pm.

The machines at Newc are rather old. Button press rather than touch screen.

Further to reb0118's post, I can confirm that 'The Travel Centre' at Newcastle closes at 21:20, however there is still another touch-screen TVM available to the right (west) of the main barriers which is available for the full range of ticket sales:- collecting pre-booked tickets and for buying tickets for immediate travel.
Perhaps because of its 24/7 availability, its screen is in poor condition, but it is operational.

 

[maniacmartin]

Of course, someone who qualifies for a Disabled Railcard may not be able to use a TVM if it is too high. It depends of the disability

 

[bnm]

Not to forget, all TOCs have a Disabled Persons Protection Policy and these all say, in one way or another, that if a disabled person encounters any difficulty in buying tickets at a station then they should be afforded the opportunity to buy on board without penalty.

For example First TransPennine Express' DPPP says:

Where it is difficult for you to purchase a ticket because of accessibility problems, you will be able to buy tickets aboard the train or at your destination and still receive reductions on your fare, subject to entitlement.

 

[cuccir]

The 21:55 is still shown as running, as are the two trains after ten

 

[yorkie]

S. 42 - 45 of the NCoC state that they are only obliged to get you to your destination if the reason for the delay is within their control. As far as I know there is no obligation for them to get you home even if the delay is within their control, only to the destination printed on your ticket.

Though in general they will try even if not obliged however in this case the advise given is not to travel. But that leads me to another thought...

It is unclear if the question is asking if the passenger can reasonably expect to have the same rights when buying a ticket having disregarded such advice, as someone who bought a ticket in good faith when no such delays were anticipated?

Perhaps that isn't the question, but if it is then I think the answer surely has to be "no".