[Travel] Delay Repay

[jcdenton08]

I cannot believe how crap it is. I’m actually going through an appeal with them at the moment. It was only a £24 fare but it’s the principal of the thing.

I got given a free ticket ticket last week to see a show in London in the evening. Before leaving I double checked the trains home, as there is only one nowadays which would give me time to see a show and make the train afterwards.

The train up there was absolutely fine - but almost the second I arrived (18:30ish) I got an email saying the last train back to Seaford (22:46) had been cancelled. I would’ve made the train easily and was counting on it to run.

This gave me two options, either leave 20-25 minutes before the end of the show, OR get a train to Brighton and wait TWO HOURS in the town centre for the night buses to start and another hour to get home. The regular 12 services finish for the night about 15 minutes before the train arrives.

I took the former option. Southern are refusing my delay repay request, because 1) I could’ve got an earlier train - which I did, despite missing almost half an hour of a show I travelled to see and 2) they would’ve honoured my train ticket on a number N12 night bus. No replacement services were laid on, and none of this was relayed in the email. It simply said your train has been cancelled.

One other thing - working in theatre myself, I can’t imagine what a nightmare this is for the not small number of crew, performers, musicians and other theatre staff who don’t have the luxury of leaving work early mid-show. I personally know at least ten people commuting to Sussex after a show each night who absolutely depend on that service.

How are they allowed to get away with this? I am 100% certain they are in breach of contract.

 

[Jim in the West]

I feel your pain, and fully endorse your desire to continue the fight on a matter of principle. I recently wasted a huge amount of time after I’d been double charged for the £5 drop-off fee at Gatwick airport - ridiculous, but I got my fiver back!

 

[Rogero]

We used to go to a few shows in London but we have been put off by cancellations so go more local ,

 

[kevo]

I thought there was some kind of rule that train companies weren't allowed to cancel the last train of the evening without providing alternative transport. Happened to me recently and they put on a paid-for cab (from Doncaster to London!). I got delay repay too as the cab arrived much later than the train.

 

[Bodian]

I thought there was some kind of rule that train companies weren't allowed to cancel the last train of the evening without providing alternative transport. Happened to me recently and they put on a paid-for cab (from Doncaster to London!). I got delay repay too as the cab arrived much later than the train.

Yes - happened to me. They eventually laid on a taxi - which wasn't much help in getting me, Mrs Bodian, and our bikes home though....

 

[AstroSloth]

I thought there was some kind of rule that train companies weren't allowed to cancel the last train of the evening without providing alternative transport. Happened to me recently and they put on a paid-for cab (from Doncaster to London!). I got delay repay too as the cab arrived much later than the train.

Most likely is the fact that it wasn't the last train to Seaford that was cancelled, but instead the Train to Brighton/Lewes to be able to catch the last train to Seaford.

I lived in Seaford for a while and never relied on the train home, always the night bus.

Getting back to Chichester is even worse lmao.

 

[Pinkie Brown]

I thought there was some kind of rule that train companies weren't allowed to cancel the last train of the evening without providing alternative transport. Happened to me recently and they put on a paid-for cab (from Doncaster to London!). I got delay repay too as the cab arrived much later than the train.

Happened to my son several years back. A Virgin shitshow from Manchester to Euston ensured he missed the last train to Worthing. The Guard on the train got in touch with his bosses who organised a taxi to Worthing. Shared with a couple of others dropping off in Brighton as I recall.

 

[Sheebo]

On this note, who are the parking ticket experts on here pls? I know @LadySeagull is one and one messaged her - who is the other…?

 

[AstroSloth]

Well to add on to the shitfest of Southern Rail we have tonight.

Got to Hove to catch the connecting train onwards towards Chichester which ended up being cancelled.

Got the next one instead and was told we would be able to get the connection at 00:16 from Barnham.

Then we were delayed so were going to miss the connection and Barnham wouldn't hold the train for us, but it's okay because the on board conductor said if we spoke to the station staff member they would be able to arrange an onward taxi to get us to Chichester.

Get off the train, speak to the station member and nope, train to Chichester wasn't nationally advertised so he can't book us a taxi.

So now I'm stranded at Barnham with no way to get home, f***ing shitshow.

 

[AstroSloth]

Oh and my phone's about to run out of battery so see you some time after 5am when I make it home

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

Absolutely disgusting treatment post match tonight. Would have gone straight home if I'd known 1 pint would turn in to half an hour locked in and then another half an hour locked outside of Falmer.

 

[Cotton Socks]

To be fair, you can't claim the money back if you keep getting the dates and locations wrong!

 

[mile oak]

I cannot believe how crap it is. I’m actually going through an appeal with them at the moment. It was only a £24 fare but it’s the principal of the thing.

I got given a free ticket ticket last week to see a show in London in the evening. Before leaving I double checked the trains home, as there is only one nowadays which would give me time to see a show and make the train afterwards.

The train up there was absolutely fine - but almost the second I arrived (18:30ish) I got an email saying the last train back to Seaford (22:46) had been cancelled. I would’ve made the train easily and was counting on it to run.

This gave me two options, either leave 20-25 minutes before the end of the show, OR get a train to Brighton and wait TWO HOURS in the town centre for the night buses to start and another hour to get home. The regular 12 services finish for the night about 15 minutes before the train arrives.

I took the former option. Southern are refusing my delay repay request, because 1) I could’ve got an earlier train - which I did, despite missing almost half an hour of a show I travelled to see and 2) they would’ve honoured my train ticket on a number N12 night bus. No replacement services were laid on, and none of this was relayed in the email. It simply said your train has been cancelled.

One other thing - working in theatre myself, I can’t imagine what a nightmare this is for the not small number of crew, performers, musicians and other theatre staff who don’t have the luxury of leaving work early mid-show. I personally know at least ten people commuting to Sussex after a show each night who absolutely depend on that service.

How are they allowed to get away with this? I am 100% certain they are in breach of contract.

Couldnt you have applied for refund on basis you turned up for the later train as advertised but it was hours late i.e. until the following morning presumably

 

[Springal]

Their recent tactic is now to just pay you for a smaller delay then you are claiming and trying to get that sorted is a nightmare.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

On this note, who are the parking ticket experts on here pls? I know @LadySeagull is one and one messaged her - who is the other…?

@Westdene Seagull

 

[keaton]

I thought there was some kind of rule that train companies weren't allowed to cancel the last train of the evening without providing alternative transport. Happened to me recently and they put on a paid-for cab (from Doncaster to London!). I got delay repay too as the cab arrived much later than the train.

I thought this changed a 2/3 years ago when they're now allowed to change the timetable up-to the day before

 

[happypig]

It's always worth checking the actual train times on https://traksy.uk/live, especially if your delay is on the cusp

 

[Westdene Seagull]

On this note, who are the parking ticket experts on here pls? I know @LadySeagull is one and one messaged her - who is the other…?

You rang m'lud ?

 

[jcdenton08]

Couldnt you have applied for refund on basis you turned up for the later train as advertised but it was hours late i.e. until the following morning presumably

It doesn’t actually give you the option to “explain” on the online compensation form, you simply put what train it was and how long the delay was. So I phoned up for advice and that is what they told me.

UPDATE: Appeal successful and a full refund to be issued within 15 working days. They are really dragging their heels on this - I had no idea their financial situation was so dire…

I was genuinely ready to go to small claims court over this, even if I ended up out of pocket over winning. Though I doubt they’d have turned up anyway.

 

[jcdenton08]

It's always worth checking the actual train times on https://traksy.uk/live, especially if your delay is on the cusp

Thanks, but as I say in the OP, I got emailed to say the train was cancelled and that was that. Useful general advice though, just not relevant to my case.