WCML Scotland advance ticket

[boyaloud]

I know this has probably been done to death, but want to check, due to the flooding, an advance ticket I purchased in November or December, from Wigan to Glasgow on FTPE this Sunday. It's for the 1143, could I travel on the 1125 Virgin instead, and then board the connecting Virgin at Carlisle, to Glasgow on the diversionary route? Thanks.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

I know this has probably been done to death, but want to check, due to the flooding, an advance ticket I purchased in November or December, from Wigan to Glasgow on FTPE this Sunday. It's for the 1143, could I travel on the 1125 Virgin instead, and then board the connecting Virgin at Carlisle, to Glasgow on the diversionary route? Thanks.

A 'TPE Only' Advance ticket will only be valid on TPE services.

 

[miami]

The 1143 Wigan to Glasgow no longer runs. There is an 1143 Wigan to Carlisle, but that's not what your reservation says.

It might be worthwhile turning up early and asking the guard on the virgin train if you can travel early, given the railway's inability to run the train service they promised.

 

[najaB]

It might be worthwhile turning up early and asking the guard on the virgin train if you can travel early, given the railway's inability to run the train service they promised.

It won't hurt, but I doubt you will be allowed to travel. The companies have really screwed up cross-acceptance in this instance.

Edit: One minor consolation - Delay Repay will be based on your booked itinerary so your journey may be longer, but will be cheaper if you remember to claim.

 

[miami]

I assume OP will be able to get a 100% refund as the journey will finish at 1535 rather than the 1428 originally booked, thus being 1h7 late meaning a 100% refund on the single fare via delay repay?

 

[Starmill]

Edit: One minor consolation - Delay Repay will be based on your booked itinerary so your journey may be longer, but will be cheaper if you remember to claim.

It would if TransPennine operated a Delay Repay Scheme.

As they do not, it's up to them if they are going to compensate you. Although I understand that they are doing so for most cases.

 

[221129]

It would if TransPennine operated a Delay Repay Scheme.

As they do not, it's up to them if they are going to compensate you. Although I understand that they are doing so for most cases.

It isn't completely optional for TPE at all.

 

[najaB]

It would if TransPennine operated a Delay Repay Scheme.

That's true, but they still have to provide at least the minimum compensation as set out by the NRCoC. The one and only time I've claimed from them they paid out at the same rates as Delay Repay.

 

[Merseysider]

Their passenger charter states they only pay out if the delay was within their control. Clearly, they can't control the weather or how fast Network Rail et al sort out the damage. But I'd expect them to provide compensation as a matter of principle if you are denied travel on an earlier train.

In any case, they are apparently handling such cases sympathetically.

 

[Starmill]

It isn't completely optional for TPE at all.

Take a look at the NRCoC:

42. Compensation for delays
(a) Where delays, cancellations or poor service arise for reasons within the control of
a Train Company or Rail Service Company, you are entitled to compensation in
accordance with the arrangements set out in that Train Company’s Passenger’s
Charter. This can be obtained from the relevant Train Company’s ticket offices,
customer relations office and internet sales site.
(b) The amount of compensation offered by each Train Company in its Passenger’s
Charter varies from Train Company to Train Company. However, as a minimum,
if you arrive more than 60 minutes late at your destination station you will be
entitled to compensation in accordance with the table below:

Ticket Held
Single ticket, or Return ticket with delay on
both the outward and return journey

Amount Payable
50% of the price paid

Does it appear that that this case falls under this condition? No, because the weather-related disruption is clearly not within their control.

Does the TransPennine Express Passenger's Charter confer anything additional to this?

Single, Return or Weekly Tickets
If you hold a ticket for a single or return journey, or a weekly Season
Ticket (not Passenger Transport Executive products), and a delay to a
First TransPennine Express service adds 30 minutes or longer to your
journey, we will offer you National Rail travel vouchers for the full cost
of the single leg of your journey that was delayed, i.e. 100%
compensation for single tickets and 50% for return tickets.
If you are delayed for more than one hour, we will offer you National
Rail travel vouchers for the full cost of your entire journey. If you hold a
weekly Season Ticket, we will calculate your compensation on the daily
value of your ticket. Claims must be made within 28 days of the expiry
date of your ticket.
The arrangements for compensation will not apply to certain delays
that are outside our control such as severe weather, vandalism,
fatalities and security alerts

It would not appear so.

So if the claim is made and granted, it is on a discretionary basis.

I don't agree that this is an acceptable situation but I'm not particularly concerned about it because it will doubtless be resolved in April and as has been pointed out many times now it has been reported that they are paying out on claims (although in vouchers rather than cash).

 

[boyaloud]

Thanks for all the responses. On the Monday 1st I'm returning and am booked on the 18:40 Virgin. Now, this will get me back too late for my connection from Wigan and leave me stranded, so can we either:

a) stay in Glasgow until 18:40 and Wigan staff will have to get us a taxi or
b) Get the 17:25 TPE bus to Lockerbie and connecting TPE train or
c) Get the 16:22 Virgin train to Carlisle then connecting Virgin to Wigan.

Preferred choice is to get the 17:25 as get most time in Glasgow whilst still getting back well in time for connection. Thanks again.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Thanks for all the responses. On the Monday 1st I'm returning and am booked on the 18:40 Virgin. Now, this will get me back too late for my connection from Wigan and leave me stranded, so can we either:

a) stay in Glasgow until 18:40 and Wigan staff will have to get us a taxi or
b) Get the 17:25 TPE bus to Lockerbie and connecting TPE train or
c) Get the 16:22 Virgin train to Carlisle then connecting Virgin to Wigan.

Preferred choice is to get the 17:25 as get most time in Glasgow whilst still getting back well in time for connection. Thanks again.

If the ticket is an Advance fare and routed Virgin West Coast it will not be valid on TPE services.

I suggest you contact Virgin Trains if you wish to travel on an earlier service, just to confirm if it is, or is not, permitted.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I suggest you contact Virgin Trains if you wish to travel on an earlier service, just to confirm if it is, or is not, permitted.

IME for any Advance ticket bought before the disruption it has effectively become an Anytime Single, with a request to travel vaguely near the original time. Though I would suggest not trying the "taxi" option, as that may well not be forthcoming because you knew about the issues before starting your journey.

The only one of your return options that is valid is the earlier VT, I would say.

 

[30907]

Thanks for all the responses. On the Monday 1st I'm returning and am booked on the 18:40 Virgin. Now, this will get me back too late for my connection from Wigan and leave me stranded, so can we either:

a) stay in Glasgow until 18:40 and Wigan staff will have to get us a taxi or
b) Get the 17:25 TPE bus to Lockerbie and connecting TPE train or
c) Get the 16:22 Virgin train to Carlisle then connecting Virgin to Wigan.

Preferred choice is to get the 17:25 as get most time in Glasgow whilst still getting back well in time for connection. Thanks again.

For the sake of 3 minutes I would catch the 1722 Virgin Voyager which connects at Carlisle - or if it doesn't, it's Virgin's problem. And no problem over acceptance.

 

[100andthirty]

I guess this is prbably too late but the TPE website says TPE Advance tickets are effectively Anytime BUT they are also TPE ONLY :cry:

http://www.tpexpress.co.uk/your-journey/scottish-service-disruption/

I couldn't find the info for Virgin - the web site is sparse! Why not try their Twitter feed?

 

[Bletchleyite]

I couldn't find the info for Virgin - the web site is sparse! Why not try their Twitter feed?

If the booked train no longer exists as booked (i.e. you booked before the disruption) VT are treating them as Anytimes but with "please travel around the time of your original train". From experience this means the same arrival or the same departure time (and Delay Repay seems to be paid based on a longer journey time, not based on what your booked train did, so if you have to travel 2 hours earlier to avoid arriving 2 hours late that counts as a 2 hour delay) but you are restricted to VT only, and I wouldn't try travelling at 9am with a ticket for 9pm as that is taking the mick a little.

If you need to travel the next day as a result of not being able to travel early enough the previous day I would suggest to contact them - refund and rebook may be the only way to do this.

As you say a quick Tweet is probably worthwhile if you want to do something out of the ordinary, then print the answer and take it with you.