Strike Day Travel and Ticket Validity Advice

[Lxd2]

Hi,

I have booked a short break away in Scotland which is going to be affected by the ASLEF strikes. I'd be very grateful if anyone could provide any advice on a couple of questions.

Northbound Journey - Wednesday 31 January

Leeds to Edinburgh - before the strike was called I had booked advance purchase split tickets, travelling with TPE and LNER, departing Leeds at 1013, with changes at York and Newcastle, see below the screenshot from my confirmation email.
TPE drivers are on strike that day so I assume neither of the TPE trains will run.
Do I have to cancel and rebook a different ticket, or would these tickets be accepted on other operators' trains e.g. CrossCountry and/or LNER?



Southbound Journey - Saturday 3 February

I am booked on the Highland Chieftain 0755 from Inverness.

This isn't a strike day on LNER but the previous day is, so does anyone know whether the Highland Chieftain is likely to run from Inverness on Saturday 3 February? I contacted LNER via Twitter and they just said "We don't know yet". My guess is that the train will be cancelled between Inverness and Edinburgh, because there won't be a driver or even a train (due to the previous day's strike and also the engineering works taking place in the week leading up to that date) in Inverness to work it, with either a bus replacement or maybe ticket acceptance on a Scotrail service.

Many thanks for any advice.

 

[Haywain]

This isn't a strike day on LNER but the previous day is, so does anyone know whether the Highland Chieftain is likely to run from Inverness on Saturday 3 February?

Not a chance. The driver works from Newcastle and stays overnight, so it won't run on Friday meaning it can't run on Saturday.

 

[Lxd2]

Thanks for the confirmation Haywain - that is what I expected but I don't know why LNER Twitter people couldn't tell me that. Do you think the train will start from Edinburgh?

 

[Haywain]

Thanks for the confirmation Haywain - that is what I expected but I don't know why LNER Twitter people couldn't tell me that. Do you think the train will start from Edinburgh?

Most likely, yes. However, on that Saturday there are engineering works requiring LNER trains to divert round the Durham coast so a modified service was already in place. This might be subject to a little additional change. It is probably a bit early for any revision to the diversion timetables to be issued.

 

[Lxd2]

Thanks for the further information Haywain, I will keep my eyes on LNER's disruption page to see what they put in place.

For the Northbound journey, just looking at the alternative options I might have if there is ticket acceptance, these are a couple of possibilities close to my original travel time:

1.
CrossCountry Leeds 1008 direct to Edinburgh 1304 (which stops at my ticket split point of Alnmouth, if that is relevant)

2.
CrossCountry Leeds 1008 to York 1030
LNER York 1054 to Edinburgh 1321 (I am booked on this train as far as Newcastle; it doesn't stop at my ticket split point of Alnmouth, if that is relevant)

I have checked the TPE Strike FAQs and I can't see any information about whether (or not) travel on another operator's trains is permitted on strike days.

 

[SeanG]

The guidance here suggests that you may be able to travel a different day if that is useful...

Industrial Action | National Rail

During rail strikes and periods of industrial action, the rail industry does all it can to minimise the impact for our passengers and help you plan around it. This page is updated regularly with the latest travel information.

www.nationalrail.co.uk

 

[Lxd2]

Thanks SeanG - that's useful to know and I think that might turn out to be my best option.

 

[SeanG]

We 2ill be doing the same, travelling down Sunday rather than Monday

 

[Watershed]

The rail industry is very unhelpful and tries to obfuscate when it comes to passenger rights during strikes. Ticket acceptance is usually only referred to in general terms; I've rarely seen a clear statement indicating that tickets will be accepted on other operators.

There is absolutely no need to refund your tickets - you should only do this if you don't intend to travel at all anymore. Since TPE will not be running any trains (or replacement buses etc.), other operators will be obliged to assist you by allowing you to use their trains, as you would otherwise be stranded if you stuck to the inexistent TPE trains. In any event your first ticket will be routed either TPE or XC "and connections", which means it's not actually restricted to any one operator.

I would suggest asking both TPE and XC on Twitter to hopefully obtain confirmation that you can use a direct service operated by XC. If that's not forthcoming, I would suggest either buying a new ticket and submitting a claim to TPE for the cost of this afterwards, or simply boarding the train - depending on your appetite for conflict.

 

[Lxd2]

Thanks Watershed, that's very helpful and useful to know. Good idea to contact XC on Twitter and ask if I can use the 1008. Often that train is pair of Voyagers, hopefully it will be that day.

 

[paul1609]

There's 2 direct National Express coaches from Leeds to Edinburgh on 31.1 leaving around lunchtime for £25 ish single. Journey time is 5 hours but avoids the train pain. Refund your rail tickets.

 

[Lxd2]

Thanks paul1609.