Query on "Stations" Stations

[TheEdge]

This is an entirely theoretical question that has been bugging me.

Once you purchase your railway ticket the railway is obliged to somehow get you from your origin to your destination, hopefully by train but sometimes in some other manner. My query arises from places sold as "Location Stations".

My local example is Colchester. It is impossible to sell a normal ticket to Colchester or Colchester Town, the tickets are routed to Colchester Stations.

Theoretical example, Mr A wants to go to Colchester Town but due a cancellations only gets as far as Colchester. Is the TOC required to get Mr A to Colchester Town or as their ticket is only routed to Colchester Stations, have the railways completed their duty?

 

[yorkie]

Providing they set off at a time when it was possible (by the timetable) to get to Colchester Town, I'd argue the railway should get them to Colchester Town.

 

[steamybrian]

This often happens with tickets to "London".
From my local station Tonbridge trains which normally run to Charing Cross but are sometimes diverted to Cannon Street or Victoria so NR tickets are accepted on London Underground for the duration.
This is particularly highlighted with the ongoing engineering works at London Bridge.

 

[bb21]

Yes, I agree that should the passenger have a valid itinerary to get to Colchester Town, then the railway's obligation is to carry him to Colchester Town.

 

[TheEdge]

I suspected that would be the case but was wondering.

Thanks

 

[John @ home]

The source document showing that "Tickets issued to or from [the] station groups listed ... are available at any associated station in the group, subject to normal route availability" is attached. This is from internal railway industry documentation and is reproduced by the forum with permission from the Association of Train Operating Companies.

 

[PeterY]

The source document showing that "Tickets issued to or from [the] station groups listed ... are available at any associated station in the group, subject to normal route availability" is attached. This is from internal railway industry documentation and is reproduced by the forum with permission from the Association of Train Operating Companies.

I'm surprised Exeter isn't listed.

 

[island]

On the other hand, God help you if you arrive at Manchester Piccadilly, want to continue to Manchester Oxford Road or Deansgate G-Mex by train, and meet the wrong G4S bloke...

 

[yorkie]

I'm surprised Exeter isn't listed.

It's not listed because there is no Exeter stations group.

 

[6Gman]

On the other hand, God help you if you arrive at Manchester Piccadilly, want to continue to Manchester Oxford Road or Deansgate G-Mex by train, and meet the wrong G4S bloke...

... or you arrive at Lime Street and want to continue to Central, Moorfields or James Street ...

 

[Hassocks5489]

I'm surprised Exeter isn't listed.

Exeter was a group until May 1992. It was disbanded with effect from the start of National Fares Manual 51. Along with many of the other station groups, it was introduced w.e.f. NFM 29 in January 1985, although interestingly St James's Park station was included within the group only from January 1986 until January 1989.