Grand Central Only tickets question

[WestCoast]

I am traveling from Thirsk to York, coming back the next day. The cheapest ticket by far appears to be a Grand Central only ticket, I realise they only have 3-4 services a day, that is fine. I will be traveling on a weekend where it says there are engineering works, and an amended timetable will be in place. I think this is when they divert because of the ECML engineering works.

But what happens if the Grand Central service is cancelled or doesn't run at all due to the engineering works, will TPE/East Coast accept my ticket?

 

[DaveNewcastle]

The Company will put arrangements in place to carry you, and all other ticket holders, to your destination.
It is a matter for them to decide how to achieve that. It may involve an arrangement with another operator(s), coach services company, taxi firm or some other means; but they will get you there without you having to make any special arrangment.

But conversely, if you already know of any special factors which might affect their choice in the matter, such as you taking a guide dog, wheelchair, bicycle or your preferred use of braille or sign-language, then it would be in your interests to let the Company be aware of that before the date of travel.

I think its safe to say that as a ticket holder, you can trust them to get you there.

 

[WestCoast]

I think its safe to say that as a ticket holder, you can trust them to get you there.

I have been let down by Grand Central at Northallerton station - a service northbound had it's delay increasing and increasing until eventually after 55 minutes it was canceled. The staff in the ticket office knew nothing and I was very glad I didn't have a Grand Central only ticket!

To be honest, I am not impressed with Grand Central as an open access, they seem to be unreliable and don't handle delays all that well. A delay with Wrexham & Shropshire that I had was handled very smoothly and in an apologetic way.Their customer charter is extremely ungenerous with regard to delay compensation as well - something like 3 hours until you get any vouchers!

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

Grand Central actually has improved an awful lot in the past year or so.
If your service is cancelled, a member of GC staff will be at your station to sort out alternate arrangements for you.

Either way, GC will get you there. I seem to think your delay will only be down to engineering works further up/down the lines, not on your particular section - your train is definately still booked to run.

 

[Failed Unit]

It used to get nasty but in national express' days as they refused point blank to endorse no matter what. When they has the serious problems with only 1 set working Grand Central had to issue open tickets to people so they could travel on the 0800 service to York.

Things are better now and East Coast will certainly cover the journey. Not sure if things were that bad between TPE and and GC.

I think the Sunderland route in terms of reliability is better now, but the Bradford Interchange route appears to suffer from lots of cancellations, to many for me to brave it on a GC only ticket.

You last point has always provoked a lot of debate that in the early days when GC were down to one set they always did Sunderland - London - York - London - Sunderland daigram. Many argued to keep the ORCATs raid up and they should ahve done Sunderland - York - Sunderland - York - Sunderland instead as many trains run between York and London but only GC do York - Sunderland.

 

[WestCoast]

If your service is cancelled, a member of GC staff will be at your station to sort out alternate arrangements for you.

Would a member of staff be able to go to places like Eaglescliffe, Northallerton and Thirsk, rather than just the main stations like Sunderland and York?

Don't get me wrong, I do think Grand Central are a decent operator - maybe I have been a little unlucky. I planned to travel with them on the North Eastern route a few weeks ago and the service was canceled, the other time was a few months earlier and it was delayed by half an hour. The third time I tried to travel with them, I had another cancellation (this time on the West Yorkshire service).

I have only travelled with them one of their 180s - I really thought they would attempt to change the FirstGroup interior colours and finishes - it's boring and clashes with their sharp brand. It felt very ordinary and not all that comfortable - I'd rather travel on a plush East Coast IC125/225 any day or even a Pendolino(:-x)..

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

People do turn up at all stations, albeit for a shorter time than the major stations.