Northern Strike 26/03 & 29/03

[PaulC88]

Sorry if this has already been posted but having done a quick search I can’t find anything.

Probably late to the party but I’ve only just discovered Northern are on Strike next week.
I have a 1st Class Advance ticket for Monday morning which I purchased 3rd Feb, PRE to MKC with connecting Virgin Train from Manchester Piccadilly. My problem is, is that my train from Preston to MAN Piccadilly is not running. When I’ve rung Virgin Trains up all they can offer is a full refund with no fee and tell me to book another train costing £170+ like for like 2 hours later.

Usually you are allowed to catch the next available train or use the ticket the day before or after but this hasn’t been announced yet. Can anyone shed any light for me please?

 

[Elecman]

Drive to Piccadilly?

 

[Starmill]

If your train is cancelled you may board the next available train by the same operator, as per Advance ticket terms and conditions. TransPennine Express and Virgin Trains are likely to be accepting Northern tickets anyway on the strike dates. Even they are not you may board any Northern service to Manchester. If this causes you to miss a connection, you can claim Delay Repay in the normal way.

You may refund the ticket if you wish, but in doing so you lose your right to be carried at the already agreed terms. I would not do that in this situation personally.

 

[PaulC88]

Drive to Piccadilly?

Unfortunately I commute on a weekly basis not daily so to pay parking in Manchester for 4 days just isn’t going to be viable.

I did check and Virgin would allow me to board at Manchester even though my ticket is from Preston.

My train is the 4:02 and the next available Northern service from Preston looks like it will be 7:05 the problem is would Virgin then accept my 5:05 Advance ticket on the 8:15? The guy on the phone didn’t offer me that option and seemed to think it wouldn’t be accepted as it is an Advance ticket for their specific train departure time and that is still running.

 

[theblackwatch]

Northern's website at https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/strike states

Customers with Advance Purchase Northern tickets or other Advance fares requiring a Northern connecting service
We are still in the process of arranging ticket acceptance with other train operators to help Northern customers with Advance Purchase tickets (your ticket will say AP Northern only). We will post these details later though customers are advised to travel as close as possible to the original booked train times.

So I'd keep an eye on updates there.

One thing I'm not sure of (and this affects me next week too), is that where they say you should "travel as close as possible to the original booked train times" it could be interpreted in two ways. I am booked on a train at 20.35 next Thursday (an EC service, with a subsequent Northern connection). If I decide to travel the following day, does "as close as possible" mean I should travel first thing on the Friday morning, or at 20.35 on that day?

 

[Starmill]

My train is the 4:02 and the next available Northern service from Preston looks like it will be 7:05 the problem is would Virgin then accept my 5:05 Advance ticket on the 8:15?

Yes, they're obliged to comply with the Advance Tickets Terms & Conditions

If delays occur while travelling, you will be allowed to take the next available train(s) to complete your journey.

TransPennine services are available and it's likely they will be accepting the tickets anyway, so you will probably be able to make the booked train from Manchester Piccadilly. If you do use a TransPennine train you can sit in First Class too.

 

[Starmill]

One thing I'm not sure of (and this affects me next week too), is that where they say you should "travel as close as possible to the original booked train times" it could be interpreted in two ways. I am booked on a train at 20.35 next Thursday (an EC service, with a subsequent Northern connection). If I decide to travel the following day, does "as close as possible" mean I should travel first thing on the Friday morning, or at 20.35 on that day?

You are only "advised" to travel as close as possible to the booked time. You are not "required" to do so. It's a request which you can decline.

 

[PaulC88]

So in simple terms I am best catching the next available service via Manchester whether it be the 7:05 Northern service or the 6:12 TPE service (If they are accepting Northern tickets)

But

My ticket doesn't actually state it being a Northern only train as it was booked with VTW so presumable I am entitled to catch any connecting train from Preston to Manchester even though there is only one that would allow me to catch the 5:05 Virgin Train to MKC anyway.

If I then arrive at my destination later than my ticketed arrival (more than 30mins) I am entitled to delay repay compensation?

 

[Puffing Devil]

The same rules apply for a delayed connecting service - get the first train you can to Manchester and onwards from there. If there is no operator restriction, you should be able to get the TPE service without worrying about ticket acceptance. If you can get to a station ticket office, I would explain your predicament and see if they will give you a seat reservation on the TPE as it may be busy.

Delay Repay will be down to Northern as they caused the problem.

 

[Romilly]

An alternative, if arriving at Milton Keynes on time is important, would be the National Express 336 coach which leaves Preston bus station at 0300 and arrives at Manchester (Chorlton Street coach station) at 0345.

 

[PaulC88]

An alternative, if arriving at Milton Keynes on time is important, would be the National Express 336 coach which leaves Preston bus station at 0300 and arrives at Manchester (Chorlton Street coach station) at 0345.

Yes I did see that as an option but I don't particularly fancy hanging around Manchester for an 1 hour & 20mins when I could be in bed!

I think catching the 6:12 is going to be my best option which I don't think will matter if TPE are allowing ticket acceptance. I think I'm right in saying that, that part of my journey I'm entitled to use any train, its the 5:05 VT which the Advance ticket is booked to that makes it an Advance ticket. I'm fairly new to train commuting and only a change in job location has brought me to using them more frequently.

 

[Starmill]

It depends if you have a reservation from Preston to Manchester or not. If you do, you should use the reserved train(s). Of course, if they're cancelled, you can't!

 

[PaulC88]

It depends if you have a reservation from Preston to Manchester or not. If you do, you should use the reserved train(s). Of course, if they're cancelled, you can't!

And if you don't have a reservation?

 

[Starmill]

If your ticket states '& Connections' and you have unreserved connecting legs, then you use 'appropriate connecting trains' according to a valid travel itinerary (which means mainly one that adheres to the neccesary minimum connection times). It's not defined what 'appropriate connecting trains' are any further.

 

[PaulC88]

Thank you Starmill and everyone else for your input so far.

 

[moliones]

If your ticket states '& Connections' and you have unreserved connecting legs, then you use 'appropriate connecting trains' according to a valid travel itinerary (which means mainly one that adheres to the neccesary minimum connection times). It's not defined what 'appropriate connecting trains' are any further.

I think that for unreserved legs of an & Connections ticket, you can use any train for which there are no reservations. As far as I can tell, that includes the 4.02 Northern service, and the 6.12 TPE service (as well as the 7.05 Northern). So, I don't think ticket acceptance even needs to be in place to take the TPE service, given the earlier train was cancelled.

 

[PaulC88]

So Northern have updated the section on their website regarding Advance ticket advice during the strike.

Here’s what it says:

“Other Advance fares requiring a Northern connecting service

Customers who have an advance ticket with a Northern origin or destination station, where we offer the connection using another train operator’s service, and want to travel on a different date than is printed on their ticket, can travel on:

• Sunday 25 March or Tuesday 27 March for tickets dated Monday 26 March
• Wednesday 28 March or Friday 30 March for tickets dated Thursday 29 March

This will be honoured by the following operators: Arriva Trains Wales, Chiltern Railways, C2C, Cross Country, First TransPennine Express, Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Greater Anglia, Great Western Railways, London Northwestern, ScotRail, South Eastern, Southern, Thameslink, West Midlands Trains, Virgin Trains East Coast and Virgin Trains West Coast

You will not need to change your ticket, but are advised to travel as close as possible to the original booked train times on other operator’s services that are available.”

To me that reads that I can travel either Monday or Tuesday and advised to travel as close as possible to my original booking.

No mention of travelling on the original booked day but I presume I can but am I restricted to what time?

 

[Mathew S]

@PaulC88 If it's of any help, there is plenty (at that time of day) of free on street parking less than 5 mins walk from Picadilly, or an NCP car park at £3.50/24 hours. I use both regularly and never have any issues. Happy to PM you details if it would help?

That said, I can't imagine you'd have any problem just catching the next available service. Have you asked staff at Preston station? They may even be willing for you to travel on a direct Preston-MKC service in the circumstances. Certainly Virgin's staff in Wigan have authorised similar arrangements for me when there's been disruption.

 

[PaulC88]

@PaulC88 If it's of any help, there is plenty (at that time of day) of free on street parking less than 5 mins walk from Picadilly, or an NCP car park at £3.50/24 hours. I use both regularly and never have any issues. Happy to PM you details if it would help?

That said, I can't imagine you'd have any problem just catching the next available service. Have you asked staff at Preston station? They may even be willing for you to travel on a direct Preston-MKC service in the circumstances. Certainly Virgin's staff in Wigan have authorised similar arrangements for me when there's been disruption.

Thank you very much for the info. I don't come home until Wednesdays next week and Im driving back from Milton Keynes with it being a long weekend, I'd then need to get back to Manchester to pick my other car up but thank you for the offer.

I've not asked at Preston station as when I got back last night it was the 11pm train and all I wanted to do is get home and in bed. If I get chance to call in at the station over the weekend I'll try catch a Virgin member of staff if not I think i will be on the 6:12 TPE.