Great Western Coffee Shop

Hi All,
Bit of a question and If you think I am wrong then please inform me.

Flew back into Luton yesterday landed at 14.00 jumped on Green line bus and noticed it was stopping at Baker Street.

Had a bus ticket from Victoria booked for 18.30 but I thought I wanted to get back to Cardiff earlier so at 15.45 jumped of Bus at Baker Street unto Tube arrived Paddington  At 15.55.

There was a train at 16.00 to Bristol so I bought a single to Swindon for ^32.00 printed on ticket at 16.00 could not remember when off peak stopped to Cardiff, now found out it was 16.30, so could have caught the 16.15 and paid ^52.00.

But I wanted to break at Swindon so I could have a smoke, well we all know that there was a problem and this started not long after leaving Paddington we stopped first at signals at around Acton and just after Didcot where we were told that there was a incident and this train was going back to Didcot and then Reading to go first stop at Bath.

When we got to Didcot information was passed to transfer onto another train that would go to Swindon, I later found out after we departed Didcot that this was the Swansea train. The train was full and there was no way of getting down the train to catch the attention of the Train Manager to ask about buying a further ticket.

When we arrived at Swindon I with my luggage trundled along platform to ask Train manger who was surrounded by customers asking for information. Without wishing to hold him up I asked if I could buy a ticket from Swindon to Cardiff informing him I already had a ticket from London to Swindon. He said yes and I jumped back on the Train further up from First Class.

I sat down and eventually after Gloucester the Train Manager (TM) came through and I purchased a Ticket for ^24.

Okay I did not make my smoke break and eventually arrived Cardiff at 19.42 the Train Manager was informing departing customers about refunds.

Without getting the TM in trouble for allowing me to continue on the train would I be allowed to claim a refund? for the total trip ?

Thanks

Basset

Almost certainly for the journey from London to Swindon as I am guessing, given the scale of the disruption, that you arrived at Swindon more than an hour late.

It's less obvious for the journey from Swindon on to Cardiff, although given the journey to Gloucester normally adds around an hour, it might be possible. Though given you bought on board, I would be inclined not to try it on.

It raises an interesting point regarding split ticketing. If you get delayed after the point of the split, you can't claim for the first ticket as you arrived there on time. I think most people would regard that as an acceptable downside to the benefit of getting a cheaper ticket.

im not personally familiar with it, but Does the fgw charter have words similar to 'unless we advise you of delays prior to purchasing your ticket'

You won't get a refund/pax charter refund for the later bit as CS will argue you would obviously have been informed of the delays. Plus they will be able to tell from the time the ticket was issued that there were delays.
Normally "DA or Delay Advised" should be scribbled or stamped on the ticket in these circumstances.

Thanks All,

Will try to claim the leg to Swindon and forget Cardiff with all that was going on did not note what time we arrived at Swindon, but it was not on the booked 16.00 which I think went back to Reading.

Can but only try will let you know what happens

Basset

Hi All,

Applied for refund for first leg and received vouchers which I used to Bristol last weekend, which was again a 2 hour trip from Cardiff on the Friday at 18.00 due to signal problems.

Went on the Severn beach line on the Saturday what value at ^3.00 return and a nice trip

Basset

Round trip, Temple Meads to Severn Beach and back, 27 miles. 11 pence per mile. It really is a bargain. Being my local line, I'm somewhat blas^ about it these days, but I'll always recommended the trip to anyone who has time to spare whilst in Bristol.

Fantastic changing scenery. Urban, residential, long tunnel, Avon Gorge, industrial, Severn Estuary.

And best of all, the off chance of bumping into bignosemac.  ;D

Some time ago, I went on a 'day out' along the Severn Beach Line, and met up with bignosemac as my local guide.

It is indeed an interesting line, with lots of history and impressive scenery, and bignosemac was an excellent and enthusiastic ambassador.

I'd recommend a trip along the Severn Beach Line to anyone who has a bit of time (and a very modest amount of money) to spare when they are in the Bristol area.  ;) :D ;D