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ChrisB
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« Reply #75 on: October 09, 2017, 20:40:13 » |
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Is there any provision in the National Rail Conditions of Travel for compensation to passengers when the timetable is ripped to shreds with just seven days notice?
In comparison, the EU261 legislation protects air travellers when the timing of the flight you're booked to travel on is changed up to 14 days before departure. Not sure for a delay by a couple of hours though |
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CyclingSid
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« Reply #76 on: October 10, 2017, 08:02:01 » |
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GWR▸ /NR» didn't seem to be shouting about the closure when I went to Windsor on Saturday. Didn't see any notice or hear any announcement at Reading. Although there were clear announcements at Slough on the return journey.
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #77 on: October 11, 2017, 06:00:12 » |
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One question springs to mind - how on Earth are they going to secure a sufficient supply of replacement buses/coaches?
Trains returning from the Westcountry are absolutely packed to the gunwhales on Sunday afternoons, hundreds upon hundreds of people with loads of luggage - how are they going to transfer them all swiftly into buses at Theale for onward travel?
(I suspect the answer is - they won't, there won't be anything like enough buses and people will end up waiting around for hours)
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grahame
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« Reply #78 on: October 11, 2017, 06:22:42 » |
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One question springs to mind - how on Earth are they going to secure a sufficient supply of replacement buses/coaches?
Evidence that we have is that when you put on a rail replacement bus, you loose most of your traffic; you do not need to cater for the same numbers. And if bus timings are poor with long waits and connections, you'll put off all but the most hardy or those who didn't realise that there were changes. |
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Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #79 on: October 11, 2017, 06:57:22 » |
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One question springs to mind - how on Earth are they going to secure a sufficient supply of replacement buses/coaches?
Evidence that we have is that when you put on a rail replacement bus, you loose most of your traffic; you do not need to cater for the same numbers. And if bus timings are poor with long waits and connections, you'll put off all but the most hardy or those who didn't realise that there were changes. With 6 weeks notice & plenty of publicity maybe, but this is last minute with virtually no publicity so it is fair to assume that a lot of people will turn up expecting the normal service, and not everyone can change their plans at such short notice anyway. |
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Adelante_CCT
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« Reply #80 on: October 11, 2017, 08:03:03 » |
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Reading buses are usually very helpful in that respect. They have dozens of spare buses at weekends and with RFC playing away, they have no need for the extra 25+ drivers they use on Saturday afternoons. Usually the longer distance bus rides involve coaches from other operators.
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Henry
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« Reply #81 on: October 11, 2017, 08:12:25 » |
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Fortunately I am able, once again, to boycott GWR▸ this weekend.
Driving from South Devon to Basingstoke, train to Waterloo. Rail enquiries advise me of
a good service on SWR» .
I suppose next time the franchise is 'up for grabs' it is too late to offer us in the
South West the choice of two London Terminals again !
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IndustryInsider
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« Reply #82 on: October 11, 2017, 08:15:35 » |
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Replacement buses are indeed much easier to source in good numbers on weekends, particularly outside of the summer season. There’s usually a good number of drivers who fancy a bit of bonus overtime. It’s short notice weekdays that are the main problem - especially at school run time.
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To view my GWML▸ Electrification cab video 'before and after' video comparison, as well as other videos of the new layout at Reading and 'before and after' comparisons of the Cotswold Line Redoubling scheme, see: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/IndustryInsider/ |
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phile
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« Reply #83 on: October 11, 2017, 09:03:22 » |
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One question springs to mind - how on Earth are they going to secure a sufficient supply of replacement buses/coaches?
Evidence that we have is that when you put on a rail replacement bus, you loose most of your traffic; you do not need to cater for the same numbers. And if bus timings are poor with long waits and connections, you'll put off all but the most hardy or those who didn't realise that there were changes. With 6 weeks notice & plenty of publicity maybe, but this is last minute with virtually no publicity so it is fair to assume that a lot of people will turn up expecting the normal service, and not everyone can change their plans at such short notice anyway. People have been complaining on Twitter re weekend bookings at Hotels with non-refundable booking charge and who now have had their arrangements upset. edited to move phile's post out of a quote box |
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« Last Edit: October 11, 2017, 09:41:30 by Timmer »
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ChrisB
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« Reply #84 on: October 11, 2017, 09:33:03 » |
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Book flexible stays when booking more than a fortnight out. It could just as easily be disruption on the Dawlish sea wall at this time of year!
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Timmer
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« Reply #85 on: October 11, 2017, 09:52:23 » |
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It could just as easily be disruption on the Dawlish sea wall at this time of year!
That's something beyond the railway's control. This late notice work is well within the railway's control. It's GWR▸ 's passengers who pay the price and that's unacceptable. |
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chrisr_75
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« Reply #86 on: October 11, 2017, 10:04:32 » |
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Book flexible stays when booking more than a fortnight out. It could just as easily be disruption on the Dawlish sea wall at this time of year!
Why should anyone have to? Many people, I'm sure, have booked various events, accommodation and so on in good faith based on GWR▸ / NR» stating that they would provide a particular service on a particular day. If that doesn't run due to incompetence of First Group and/or NR, then one or t'other should re-imburse people accordingly. It's about time a compensation system akin to the European air passengers rights was established for long distance rail travel. |
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Tim
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« Reply #87 on: October 11, 2017, 10:12:55 » |
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I never understand the exclusion from compensation of things "beyond the railway's control". It has the superficial appearance of fairness, but so long as the parties know what they are agreeing to when they voluntarily sign the contract then fairness is not really an issue. Surely in a capitalist market system the priority should be to set up the right incentives to deliver what is needed. So making GWR▸ or NR» pay for Dawlish wall problems or making BA» pay for flight delays caused by fog at Heathrow, will incentivise those companies to minimise the disruption caused by incidents even of those incidents are outside their control. Of course the biggest financial risk to which GWR or any company is exposed is the state of the economy which is completely outside their control. That isn't unfair. It is just business.
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Timmer
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« Reply #88 on: October 11, 2017, 10:13:46 » |
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With 6 weeks notice & plenty of publicity maybe, but this is last minute with virtually no publicity so it is fair to assume that a lot of people will turn up expecting the normal service, and not everyone can change their plans at such short notice anyway.
It concerns me they haven't been shouting from the rooftops about this work. Yes maybe at stations but unless you are travelling on GWR▸ lines during the week, how are you going to know? |
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ChrisB
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« Reply #89 on: October 11, 2017, 10:17:09 » |
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That I would agree with - maybe NR» ought to be taking out some ads?
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