Split tickets and service disruption

[alastair]

Can someone help with a query please?

Just looking at fares for a day return trip North Camp to Taunton via Reading. Trainsplit suggests using using 3 x CDR's splitting at Newbury and Castle Cary and there are a (very) small number of trains that call at both those places thus making it a feasible option and saving a useful amount over the through SVR or SSR fare.

My query is, how do I stand, if due solely to a cancellation or serious disruption, my intended service fails to run, and my only option is to take a service which does not call at one or more of those places? Would I have any rights at all, or would I just have to appeal to the Guard/TM to let me travel?

Thanks.

 

[AlterEgo]

You don't have any automatic rights to use your split tickets on routes not permitted by those tickets. You do however retain the same rights to abandon the journey, receive alternative transport along the routes allowed by your tickets, and so on.

I know if I were a guard and you came a cropper I'd happily pass you on my train and endorse your tickets, but I'll defer to posters with local knowledge.

 

[yorkie]

Can someone help with a query please?

Just looking at fares for a day return trip North Camp to Taunton via Reading. Trainsplit suggests using using 3 x CDR's splitting at Newbury and Castle Cary and there are a (very) small number of trains that call at both those places thus making it a feasible option and saving a useful amount over the through SVR or SSR fare.

My query is, how do I stand, if due solely to a cancellation or serious disruption, my intended service fails to run, and my only option is to take a service which does not call at one or more of those places? Would I have any rights at all, or would I just have to appeal to the Guard/TM to let me travel?

Thanks.

I think it would be no different to having a route restricted ticket, for a route with a similarly infrequent service.

If delays occur, a company can enforce a route (or, in this case, 'calling at') restriction if it is reasonable to do so. However if this would cause excessive delay it would be irresponsible for any company to do this.

Some train companies have policies that if your next available service would be more than an hour or two later, then they will arrange alternative transport, rather than making you wait for the next train. Sometimes that may be a taxi (e.g. a journey on the West Higland Line or similar) while other times that may be allowing you to use a non-permitted route by rail.

You are travelling entirely with GWR; it would not be in GWR's interests for you to incur unnecessary additional delay as this would increase the company's delay repay liabilities for no good reason. It would make no sense from a financial or customer service point of view for the company to end up giving you 100% compensation for your journey when it was within their control to avoid this.

In addition, GWR Train Managers on the route in question are generally known for taking a pragmatic view regarding trains not calling at splitting points, even at times of no disruption, let alone where disruption has occured.

As for what your rights are, as a minimum you are entitled to complete your journey in a reasonably timely manner as per circumstances within the company's control and you are entitled to delay compensation for your entire journey (GWR's Passengers Charter makes this position absolutely clear)

If you have a combination of tickets for your journey, we’ll compensate
you for your whole journey in line with the compensation
arrangements above.

If some of your tickets are for trips with other train companies, we’ll
compensate you if we caused the delay. If we didn’t, we’ll ask the other
train company to contact you. We’ll always let you know when we’ve
done this.