Would Delay Relay cover the overall journey if PlusBus was added?

[Teapot42]

Due to various cancellations and a late-running EMR skipping Sheffield tonight I was 50 minutes late getting back to Chesterfield from Normanton. Due to the way the buses run in the evening I was actually over an hour late getting home, but my understanding is that I can only claim for the train portion.

However, there is a suggestion online that if you have included PlusBus on your ticket, you can claim for the complete journey, including the bus - is this correct? It was only after I'd got on the bus and went to buy my ticket that I realised I could have done PlusBus so I don't have that, but if it is the case then it would be useful to know for future, never mind the fact it's also slightly cheaper.

 

[Watershed]

Delay Repay applies to your rail journey, there isn't any obligation to pay compensation for non-rail elements.

 

[Kilopylae]

I would assume one can claim compensation for the whole cost of the ticket (i.e. including the PlusBus supplement) but only against the delay in arriving at the railway station - not the time getting home.

 

[gray1404]

Delay repay does not include the cost of plus bus. It is only the combination of rail tickets used.

 

[Teapot42]

Thanks all, looks like Gemini was hallucinating when it said plusbus was included.

It's annoying, as train delays can impact which (if any) bus you can get, but I can see why.

 

[Haywain]

Thanks all, looks like Gemini was hallucinating when it said plusbus was included.

An AI tool fails to give the correct answer. Quelle surprise!

 

[Teapot42]

An AI tool fails to give the correct answer. Quelle surprise!

The correct answer is usually in there, or at least incorrect ones can be eliminated by following the sources.

In this case there wasn't a source so I thought I'd ask the one place bound to know!

 

[Belperpete]

Delay repay does not include the cost of plus bus. It is only the combination of rail tickets used.

It is understandable that the delay minutes won't include any bus-related delay, as the rail itinerary won't/can't include the bus journey. However, when you fill in the DR form, it asks for the cost of your ticket, which therefore includes the plusbus cost-element. Do they subtract the plusbus cost when they calculate your compensation?

I currently have two DR claims in for journeys to/from the IoW, where both the ticket price AND the rail itinerary included hovercraft and connecting bus. The delays were both rail incurred. And some Traws Cymru bus routes are also being included in rail fares and itineraries (see https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...de-routes-via-trawscymru-bus-services.306241/) so potentially could also be included in DR claims.

 

[MrJeeves]

However, when you fill in the DR form, it asks for the cost of your ticket, which therefore includes the plusbus cost-element.

Well no, the PlusBus ticket is an add-on ticket you purchase alongside your rail journey.

If you bought tickets like "Brighton+Bus to London Terminals", I'd agree with you.

 

[Teapot42]

It is understandable that the delay minutes won't include any bus-related delay, as the rail itinerary won't/can't include the bus journey.

Just to be clear, my original query wasn't about a delay caused by a bus. The delay to the trains meant I missed my original bus, and the next option pushed the total delay to over an hour.

On one hand, unless you live within walking distance of a station the rail element isn't the only part of your journey, and delays there can knock further on. Indeed, the bus I ended up catching is I believe the last one of the day. If I'd missed that it would have been taxi or a very long walk from another bus. It doesn't seem unreasonable to ask if knock-on delays could be accommodated.

On the other hand, there are so many potential cases that it's difficult to cover them all, as well as to prove, so limiting things to just the element under the control of the railways is probably the only practical option.

Out of interest, what would happen if there were extensive delays and you were dumped at a station long after the last bus would have left? Would the railways be under any obligation to provide alternative transport, or does their remit stop at the boundary of railway property?

 

[Haywain]

Would the railways be under any obligation to provide alternative transport, or does their remit stop at the boundary of railway property?

Your contract with the railway is to get you to the station named on your ticket.

 

[gray1404]

It is understandable that the delay minutes won't include any bus-related delay, as the rail itinerary won't/can't include the bus journey. However, when you fill in the DR form, it asks for the cost of your ticket, which therefore includes the plusbus cost-element. Do they subtract the plusbus cost when they calculate your compensation?

I currently have two DR claims in for journeys to/from the IoW, where both the ticket price AND the rail itinerary included hovercraft and connecting bus. The delays were both rail incurred. And some Traws Cymru bus routes are also being included in rail fares and itineraries (see https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...de-routes-via-trawscymru-bus-services.306241/) so potentially could also be included in DR claims.

You have answered your own question.

Plus bus is an add on

The other examples are where something else is included in a through fare on the one ticket.

Next time you get a rail ticket with plus bus you will see the price printed on your rail ticket is without the plus bus add on.

 

[tutacre]

What happens with those Transport for Wales integrated buses Aberystwyth/Carmarthen/North Wales etc - they're sold with specific itineraries and connections to specific towns - presumably they are covered?

 

[Watershed]

What happens with those Transport for Wales integrated buses Aberystwyth/Carmarthen/North Wales etc - they're sold with specific itineraries and connections to specific towns - presumably they are covered?

If you have a through ticket then I think a missed connection onto a bus would be covered simply by virtue of how the Delay Repay systems work. Any in any case compensation for delays on the train portion of the journey would be calculated based on the through ticket's cost as there is no splitting down based on constituent parts.