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Glasgow to Alnwick on June 3

I have ticket Glasgow to Edinburgh on Scotrail connecting to London northeastern to Alnmouth on June 3 ( advance fare @ £18.60 ) which looks like strike day on London Northeastern
I have booked non-refundable accommodation so must travel.
National Express has 1 bus on June 3 direct to Alnwick for £26 or £39 fully refundable.
My plan is to book refundable with National Express, then cancel when ( if ) situation becomes clearer.
Is there a better plan?
How easy is the refund process?
Thanks

Posted by
358 posts

Probably not a better plan - you won't find many options once you get past Edinburgh. No experience of the refund option but they are a large well known company

Posted by
5761 posts

That is your best alternative although it's showing me £20 fully refundable.
Create a free account with Nat Ex and you avoid the £1 booking fee.
There is no sensible road alternative. The only other option would be what is now a sparse public bus service from Edinburgh to Berwick on Tweed, changing there to the public bus service bound for Newcastle. But that's a slow old journey.
The other option would be Lumo train (they are not involved in the strike) from Edinburgh to Morpeth, then public bus back north to Alnwick. If they are the only operator that day then your existing ticket should be valid on them.
Overall NatEx are by far the best Plan B.
I would book that now before the fares go up.

Posted by
5761 posts

PS- My only experience of refunds with Nat Ex was at the start of Covid, when the company closed all operations. Unlike many other travel companies at that time the process was very swift and painless. Then I had the choice of a cash refund or a voucher valid for 1 year (at a time when they thought they would only be closed for a few weeks).

Posted by
96 posts

Thanks all. I decide to play it safe and booked with National Express.