What if an Open Access Operator ceases to trade?

[rjchapma]

Following on from the Hull Trains service being dessimated this week. Does anyone know what happens if an Advance ticket for an OAO, or an open ticket for a OAO Only is purchased and the Operator ceases to trade before travel, what are the options for the passenger?

Clearly there are protections if bought by credit or debit card (with differing rules) or if the passenger has travel insurance. What does the industry offer?

I raise the question as HT Cancelled everything today, and they cannot continue to trade as a going concern like this.

Thoughts?

 

[Bletchleyite]

They are owned by FirstGroup, who may well choose to keep bankrolling them - they can do so as long as they as a Group have the money.

 

[pdeaves]

I would expect that other operators on the route would likely accept the passengers. The goodwill/publicity would be worth a fortune.

 

[Bungle965]

I would expect that other operators on the route would likely accept the passengers. The goodwill/publicity would be worth a fortune.

Virgin did this when Wrexham and Shropshire went down the pan.
Sam

 

[rjchapma]

I'd forgotten about Wrexham and Shropshire, there is a president set then.

Richard

 

[AlterEgo]

I'd forgotten about Wrexham and Shropshire, there is a president set then.

Richard

It is not a binding precedent though and the PR landscape was a little different with W+S.

 

[Ianno87]

Virgin did this when Wrexham and Shropshire went down the pan.
Sam

Remembering that W&S pulled their services with only about 4 days notice!

 

[Haywain]

I would say that the nature of the National Rail ticketing and revenue distribution system means that you would be entitled to a refund from the original retailer as per the National Rail Conditions of Travel. The only potential difficulty with this would be if the ticket had been purchased from the open access operator.