London - Middlesbrough 05/01/20

[Spurs]

Hiya,

A few weeks back (12/12/19) I booked return travel to Middlesbrough to go to the football on the 5th of January - a super off-peak single outward, and an avance coming back. My confirmation email shows this train was due to leave Kings Cross at 10.30, with a change at York to get to Middlesbrough at 13.35 in time for the game at 14.00. I wasn't able to get a reservation (tried online and at a booking office), but they assured me this wasn't anything to worry about and that there'd be unreserved seats available.

However, checking the trains now, this all seems to have changed, the first train doesn't get there until 14.20, and there's warnings about old rolling stock and engineering works in Peterborough. Does anyone know what's going on, whether I'm missing something, and whether there's any way to actually get there or how I can go about getting a refund? It seems wrong that they've cancelled my train and not even sent an email, and the train time is still showing as 10.30 on my account for LNER.

 

[Darandio]

Delete, needs more thought.

 

[Spurs]

It seems there is engineering work that weekend resulting in diversions and extended journey times. As your outbound journey is a super off-peak ticket, you sohuld be able to catch the 10:03 instead with an arrival at York for 12:03 meaning you can make that connection to Middlesbrough.

I don't want to be a total pessimist, but given the reliability of TPE currently then it's a throw of the dice whether that connection will run at all, if it doesn't you'll have no chance of getting to the Riverside for 2pm.

Damn. Any chance you can link me to that 12.03? Looks like the earliest I can get to York is 12.47 on National Rail...

 

[Darandio]

Ignore it, I posted in error as I stupidly had cancelled services highlighted. It does look impossible as you say. The latter part about TPE would still be relevant in any case.

 

[Spurs]

Ignore it, I posted in error. It does look impossible as you say. The latter part about TPE would still be relevant in any case.

No worries. I'll look at coach times and phone this lot up for a refund. I do find it unbelievable that they can sell me a ticket for a train less than a month in advance, decide they wont't run it after all, and not even bother to tell me about it. No wonder people drive!...

 

[Darandio]

For coaches, Megabus have an 08:00 departure from Victoria Coach Station to Middlesbrough for £14.13 and a return at 17:30 for the same price. There is a slightly earlier return but it involves a change at Leeds.

 

[Spurs]

For coaches, Megabus have an 08:00 departure from Victoria Coach Station to Middlesbrough for £14.13 and a return at 17:30 for the same price. There is a slightly earlier return but it involves a change at Leeds.

Thank you very much, I really appreciate it

 

[Starmill]

I do find it unbelievable that they can sell me a ticket for a train less than a month in advance, decide they wont't run it after all, and not even bother to tell me about it.

This happens pretty much all the time with weekend travel!

 

[yorkie]

... whether there's any way to actually get there..

I'd argue that if you don't mind booking overnight accommodation, they should let you travel the day before. But you may not want to do that. It may be cheaper to refund & rebook, depending on how much you paid.

...or how I can go about getting a refund?

If you choose not to travel, contact the retailer (in this case LNER), who is obliged to refund you in full (no admin fee can be charged)

If you know of anyone else who is planning to get to the game, you may want to pre-warn them too!

 

[Spurs]

I'd argue that if you don't mind booking overnight accommodation, they should let you travel the day before. But you may not want to do that. It may be cheaper to refund & rebook, depending on how much you paid.

If you choose not to travel, contact the retailer (in this case LNER), who is obliged to refund you in full (no admin fee can be charged)

If you know of anyone else who is planning to get to the game, you may want to pre-warn them too!

Yeah, that doesn't work sadly - got a shift the day before. But refunding it and catching the Megabus isn't the end of the world and actually saves a bit of cash so it's not all bad!

I've already let one of my mates know, and he's debating how/whether Megabus can/will enforce "No Alcohol" - could be 'interesting' if others have the same idea on an 8am bus!