Northern selling tickets for non-existent trains

[omnicity4659]

I have bought tickets on Tuesday from Northern's website for Monday for a trip to Whitehaven and Barrow; I've planned my day around the times that their journey planner provided to me, however have since found out about the disruption at Bransty Tunnel which makes my planned itinerary (based on their times!) impossible, ultimately leading to missing the last train back to Ashington. Northern have not yet alerted me that these trains just aren't running as they said they would.


times provided by Northern on their website and in booking confirmation emails:

• 1418 Whitehaven to Barrow (1543) - Advance
• 1716 Barrow to Carlisle (1946) - Advance
• 2009 Carlisle to Newcastle (2144) - Sale advance
• 2216 Newcastle to Ashington - Off-peak single

actual timings as per RTT:

• 1342 replacement bus Whitehaven to Corkickle (1352)
• 1423 Corkickle to Barrow (1542)
• 1716 Barrow to Corkickle (1831)
• 1841 replacement bus Corkickle to Whitehaven (1853)
• 1922 Whitehaven to Carlisle (2034)
• 2107 Carlisle to Newcastle (2244)
• last train to Ashington has already departed

Is anyone able to advise what I am meant to do? Can I ask Northern to cover the cost of a taxi between Newcastle and Ashington, or will they provide a refund for every booked journey for that day?

Images show screenshots of the two Advance Single bookings for trains that have since been cancelled/curtailed/altered.

 

[yorkie]

Is anyone able to advise what I am meant to do? Can I ask Northern to cover the cost of a taxi between Newcastle and Ashington....

If there is no public transport available to Ashington, then staff at Newcastle station should provide a taxi for you, at Northern's expense.

If they refuse to do so, you can then bill Northern for the cost of a taxi/uber from Newcastle station to Ashington station. Make sure you get a receipt.

or will they provide a refund for every booked journey for that day?

Yes; if you alternatively choose not to travel, you are entitled to a full refund.

 

[Rail Ranger]

If it is of any use, Northern tickets are valid on Avanti and TPE between Lancaster and Carlisle. UPDATE. This is no longer the case. The wording on the National Rail website has changed.

 

[voyagerdude220]

If it is of any use, Northern tickets are valid on Avanti and TPE between Lancaster and Carlisle.

Good point- If the OP travels via Lancaster, leaving Barrow at 17:13 instead of 17:16, they should arrive at Carlisle at 19:51, in time for their 20:09 Carlisle to Newcastle.

 

[omnicity4659]

Perfect! Thanks for the replies all, at least I get to take in the whole line via Lancaster

 

[Bletchleyite]

Perfect! Thanks for the replies all, at least I get to take in the whole line via Lancaster

The bit over Shap (Oxenholme-Penrith) is one of the unsung scenic beauties of the network - well worth doing. Sit on the right for the better view.

 

[Rail Ranger]

The wording on the National Rail website has changed. Northern tickets are no longer valid on TPE and Avanti between Lancaster and Carlisle.

 

[omnicity4659]

The wording on the National Rail website has changed. Northern tickets are no longer valid on TPE and Avanti between Lancaster and Carlisle.

The video attached to the page still says ticket acceptance via WCML when I watched it earlier. It appears they've only had since July to improve communications (...and not sell advance tickets for cancelled trains!)

 

[Rail Ranger]

The wording saying that Northern tickets are valid on TPE and Avanti has gone though.

 

[cornishjohn]

The Northern page at https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/service-updates presently says

<snipped>

Additional Info​

For customers on station platforms, please listen for announcements or consult Customer Information Screens for up-to-date train running information.
For live real time journey updates on board your train please visit journeycheck.com/northern, message us on X.com @northernassist (between 06:00 and 22:00), or search for #NorthernUpdates
If the train you have a ticket for is cancelled, you can travel on any Northern or TransPennine Express within 2 hours before or after your cancelled service was due to depart.

<snipped>

Shirley the arms of the railway are able to talk to each other?

 

[redreni]

The Northern page at https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/service-updates presently says


Shirley the arms of the railway are able to talk to each other?

I'm sure they're able to, but they don't always seem to want to.

 

[omnicity4659]

I'm sure they're able to, but they don't always seem to want to.

It doesn't even seem like the different arms of Northern are able to talk to each other... reading this page https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/engineering/branstytunnel advises that there's rail replacement buses on the 6th between Millom and Whitehaven, but their updated journey planner and RTT says trains between Millom and Corkickle!

No sign of an updated PDF timetable either...

 

[janb]

The de facto ticket acceptance on Avanti and TPE was withdrawn on 27th September.

Acceptance on TPE would apply in the event of a cancelled train, the OP has a cancelled train so I think could make the case there but I'm not sure it helps them in this scenario.