ECML engineering works Peterborough ticketing

[Centralsimon]

Does anyone know.

This and next weekend, the ECML is closed south of Grantham.

In typical style, ticket holders from Peterborough are left in limbo with the travel advice.

Bus to Grantham then coach to Corby or bus to Bedford via Huntingdon and St Neots

It should not be this hard

But the question is, what's the routing for a Peterborough to London terminals season ticket?

Can I travel via Ely or more likley drive to Cambridge North then travel to London Liverpool street on a Peterborough season.

I think Thameslink have mentioned ticket acceptance from Cambridge to Liverpool street, so worse case would I need to buy a ticket to travel to Cambridge and then it appears my season is valid from Cambridge

Also is there any rule regarding reasonable routes during planned works.

I dont think travelling Via Ely / Cambridge is unreasonable if the mainline is blocked.

But I am sure some gateline staff or revenue staff may disagree

Any advice gladly received

 

[Watershed]

An "Any Permitted" Peterborough-London ticket or season is valid via Ely and Cambridge into either Liverpool Street or the usual ECML routes into London - this doesn't depend on engineering works being in place.

If you have a cheaper "Great Northern & Thameslink only" ticket then it's a little bit trickier as you couldn't actually complete the entire route using just GTR services - but equally, if you drive to Ely/Cambridge then you would only be using GTR services. Using Greater Anglia or CrossCountry services wouldn't be permitted, unfortunately.

I agree that the arrrangements put in place by the rail industry during engineering works are often subpar and particularly so when you consider the amount of money that season ticket holders have paid. If no reasonable alternatives are offered (and for the avoidance of doubt - a replacement coach to somewhere nearly equidistant from London is hardly reasonable in my book) and no ticket acceptance is offered to allow you to travel via routes that are still open, there might be an argument for being reimbursed the cost of any additional tickets you're forced to buy to travel via such routes. But it might be contested by the train company, so do bear that in mind.

Unfortunately the rail industry really doesn't 'get' customer service; it's a very low priority in the scheme of things.

 

[Centralsimon]

Thanks

It's any permitted ticket

I think GTR have ticket acceptance from Cambridge, but parking at Cambridge is a nightmare so looking at Cambridge North

Bit annoying how planned works is now don't travel.

GTR very limited bus, lner bus appears to be only running hourly from Grantham.

All designed to simply not travel, which is not an option if you need to get to work.

Just trying to piece together the very confusing, contradicting and sometimes misleading information

The other option is to drive and park at Corby, small car park, or even drive to LU, not great for Sunday.

Just don't want to end up with a penalty fare on top of 2 weekends on travel annoyances

 

[gordonthemoron]

I wouldn’t try parking at Bedford as the car park is usually full, but Flitwick is usually not that busy at weekends

 

[Centralsimon]

It's the balance of driving times, miles and car park space

Then balancing that with simply driving to High Barnet or Cockfosters, although Sunday that unravels

Will check Flitwick

Arghhhhh

 

[Haywain]

It's any permitted ticket

With an Any Permitted ticket GTR's ticket acceptance is irrelevant to you - your ticket is valid to travel on trains from Peterborough to Ely, Cambridge or Stansted Airport, and onwards to London on Greater Anglia services. You don't need to drive anywhere, although you should be aware that the trains from Peterborough to Ely etc are likely to be very busy.

 

[yorksrob]

With an Any Permitted ticket GTR's ticket acceptance is irrelevant to you - your ticket is valid to travel on trains from Peterborough to Ely, Cambridge or Stansted Airport, and onwards to London on Greater Anglia services. You don't need to drive anywhere, although you should be aware that the trains from Peterborough to Ely etc are likely to be very busy.

For what it's worth, I did this on Xmas Eve and the Peterborough - Ely section was 2 carriage, and although busy, not crowded.