Recent Timetable Changes

[SteveP29]

I'm puzzled (it happens often, so no surprises), what was so different about the timetable changes this time from the one that usually happens around this time of year?

For the last two weekends I have managed to get on a train at Newcastle that wasn't stopping at Chester le Street. I always book my trains from Edinburgh to Newcastle to coincide with a connecting train to Chester le Street and leave myself no more than half an hour wait for the connection.

How could both the VTEC and Trainline websites (at the time of booking, at least 2 months prior) tell me that the TPE trains at the times I was arriving into Newcastle were stopping at CLS, surely they would have been aware of these changes?

 

[robbeech]

You’ll need to give us the exact details of what trains you caught, what trains you were supposed to catch and when you booked the tickets if you did it in advance.

I’m aware of a few problems like this but not too many. Can you replicate the problem still or was it just an advance thing?
There have been lots and lots of last minute alterations to timetables along with the original plans sadly. If your booked journey was delayed you are entitled to delay repay if you exceed the threshold.

 

[SteveP29]

Hi Rob, my journeys were as follows:
1 Edinburgh to Newcastle on 20th May 12:00- 13:37, booked 14th March
2 Edinburgh to Newcastle on 26th May 14:05- 15:35, booked 30th April

Both the VTEC and Trainline websites at the time said that there were TPE
trains from Newcastle to Liverpool Lime Street (20th May at 14:06, 26th May at 16:06)

I am unable to replicate the problem, but seeing as I do the journey at least 25 times a year, I always book to
ensure I have, like I said no more than half an hour to wait for the connection, as after then, it becomes time
and cost effective to get the bus instead.
Both journeys were dead on time, the TPE trains were on Platform 9 at Newcastle as they normally are

 

[transmanche]

Due the very late timetable changes that @robbeach mentioned, most southbound Chester-le-Street calls are now made by TPE services from Newcastle to Manchester Airport. (Whereas most northbound calls are made by TPE services from Liverpool.) In general, the Manchester services depart Newcastle about a quarter of an hour after the Liverpool trains.

 

[yorkie]

There have been (and continue to be, on some routes) late timetable changes this year

If, as a result of the changes, you arrive at your destination 30 or more minutes later than the contracted arrival time, you are of course entitled to delay compensation, based on the total cost of your journey (in this case from Edinburgh to Chester le Street).

However if you booked your journey only to Newcastle, and not to CLS, then unfortunately I believe you would not have a valid claim.