Easements as a consequence of engineering works.

[route:oxford]

Thinking about heading to Scotland this weekend from Oxford. There are rail replacement buses organised for this weekend though around the banbury/leamington area. (Planning on returning on the following Friday.)

Buses are too much hassle really, so will go via Euston or Kings X on the way up, but will return direct from Edinburgh or Glasgow to Brum, then south.

I don't see anything listed on the national rail website, so does anyone know if there are any easements available this weekend to permit travel via London as a consequence of the works?

Also, is it possible to pre-book a "weekend first" seat on East Coast? Last couple of times I did with NXEC I was told that I shouldn't have been able to do that (no trouble though).

 

[yorkie]

There really should be an easement, but if not the excess (assuming OXF-EDB without a Railcard) is £8.25 for the return portion of an Oxford-Edinburgh Off Peak Route Not London into a Super Off Peak route Any Permitted.

 

[route:oxford]

Thanks

I'll book the service tomorrow at the station and get the add-on via-London excess.

(And hopefully pre-book weekend first)

 

[yorkie]

Some people refuse to adhere to the rules and give some excuse why they "can't do an excess", in which case quote this to them:-

DUAL ROUTE AVAILABILITY
Where two or more permitted routes are available for a specific journey,
customers may wish to travel out by one route and return by another. If a
higher fare applies for the return leg of the journey the customer should be
issued with a ticket for the more direct route and an excess fare issued to
cover the difference in fare for the return routeing. This option should be
made available to customers who wish to pre-book a dual routed ticket prior
to travel.

If they still refuse, politely ask for their name and ask to speak to a manager, and ask for details on how you can complain.

I've heard bad reports about stations like Huddersfield. I suspect EMT may be obstructive also. Also King's Cross has become quite notorious but a member of this forum asked to see a manager a few weeks ago after being refused an over-distance excess, and the member of staff who was obstructive got a telling off and the excess was issued.