Poole / Bournemouth To Crawley - Strike Query

[fkofilee]

Hi Folks...

QQ for the floor - Have an Open Off Peak Return to go from Poole or Bournemouth (Ticket is to Poole) to go back to Crawley.
I travelled down on the 2nd Jan for a new job and training. I have to go back on Friday.

Routing is Via Barnham only so is SN from Southampton Central to Crawley and SWR from Poole to Southampton Central.
However - No services for Southern run to Southampton on Strike Days however SWR do run to Clapham Junction from there.

Given that the SWR timetable for the 3rd - 7th came out literally the day I travelled while travelling, and no SN trains run the route I need, am I able to travel from Southampton Central to Clapham and change back down to Three Bridges for my journey as no other route is available on my current ticket?
I have no option but to travel back (Hotel isnt available or financially permitted)

FKO

 

[miklcct]

You can excess your return portion to route "Clapham Junction not London" for half of the price difference at a ticket office.

 

[Watershed]

Hi Folks...

QQ for the floor - Have an Open Off Peak Return to go from Poole or Bournemouth (Ticket is to Poole) to go back to Crawley.
I travelled down on the 2nd Jan for a new job and training. I have to go back on Friday.

Routing is Via Barnham only so is SN from Southampton Central to Crawley and SWR from Poole to Southampton Central.
However - No services for Southern run to Southampton on Strike Days however SWR do run to Clapham Junction from there.

Given that the SWR timetable for the 3rd - 7th came out literally the day I travelled while travelling, and no SN trains run the route I need, am I able to travel from Southampton Central to Clapham and change back down to Three Bridges for my journey as no other route is available on my current ticket?
I have no option but to travel back (Hotel isnt available or financially permitted)

FKO

If you booked on the basis of the 'normal' timetable, and you would face a delay of more than an hour by waiting for the next train on the route your ticket is normally restricted to, then yes - you are entitled to be re-routed at the earliest opportunity without cost, under the Passenger Rights and Obligations Regulation. As there are no more trains to get you to your destination you are also entitled to alternative transport or accommodation from any operator in a position to assist, which in practice means allowing you to travel via Clapham Jn without extra charge.

If the strike had already been announced when you booked, and an indicative timetable was already shown (e.g. frequencies/which parts of the network will be served), I think that might be a little more questionable.

However, as there is a ticket routed via Clapham Junction, it will be very simple to calculate the excess due if you are refused re-routing or alternative transport (half the difference between the relevant fares as it's a one-way excess on a return ticket). You are also perfectly permitted to pay this excess onboard the train without penalty (and it is quite unlikely that tickets will be checked onboard in any event).

If you are charged an excess, having been wrongly refused re-routing or alternative transport, you would be entitled to reclaim the cost of this, though this may not be entirely straightforward!

 

[fkofilee]

Thank you very much @Watershed - That is very much appreciated.

 

[30907]

Are you aware that you will have to make your own way to Southampton? As on previous strike days, there are no passenger services further West.

 

[fkofilee]

Yes - Already booked NX from Poole to Southampton. £9 which isnt too bad

 

[Birmingham]

Is it not the case that there is network-wide ticket acceptance on strike days?

 

[Watershed]

Is it not the case that there is network-wide ticket acceptance on strike days?

Unfortunately not, at least officially (in practice, many gateline and revenue protection staff are on strike, and contingency guards generally aren't trained to check tickets).

This is one of numerous failings in the way the industry has dealt with the strikes - and it's a complete own-goal.