Just a note of warning- During the last round of Industrial Action Northern Rail were quietly removing scheduled trains they were unable to operate late the previous night.
Not cancelled, just removed from the schedule.
Thus on their 'Journey Check' it doesn't show as cancelled, because it was never meant to run.
By doing that they didn't have to pay compensation, or provide alternative road transport, even if it was the last train of the night and it left you stranded.
That stopped when Network Rail settled.
The really bizarre thing is that on the station information screens the train DOES show as cancelled.
It has now started again.
I am writing this at Preston, where the 1734 to Barrow is showing as cancelled on the screens even though RTT shows the train as not existing and Journey Check is totally silent on the subject.
The only way round it is to re-plan every Northern journey after 10pm the previous night. So I will start haunting Real Time Trains again.
The fact that I am travelling on a complimentary ticket after a 30 minute local delay months ago is by the by.
I did wonder at Todmorden when the planner wanted to send me via Manchester and Wigan, when I wanted to go via Burnley, but assumed it was a software glitch.
So I am now on a tight last connection of the night, which I always try to avoid.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14818 posts
Oh my! Hope you make it!
Posted by
OP
Lake District, England
8132 posts
I had 2 live running screens up at once on my tablet, and know what train door is closest to the steps at Lancaster for the change, so am on the last train now. I did what I tell others not to do, let the system tell me my new platform, rather than the station monitors.
I will be more vigilant in the future. I let my guard down.
A delay repay claim will be submitted, I have two settled claims in the post to me currently!!
The real point of this post is a serious warning to others, who are not as clued up as me. That Northern Rail are being naughty.
Posted by
OP
Lake District, England
8132 posts
Just to note that you can still get Delay Repay in these circumstances, with enough evidence and persistence.
The claim was refused initially as it was a "short notice change to timetable" as stated above, then again refused twice on appeal, even with photographic evidence as Northern stated there was no later train by which I had completed my journey, as Northern are unable to read their own timetables.
So it was elevated to a formal complaint with a written warning to Northern that a further refusal would lead to a referral to the Ombudsman. It has now been approved.
This was not about the compensation. It was about the principle of surreptitious removal of timetabled trains and the confusion that causes to the travelling public. That bigger issue has not really been resolved, but a clear line has been drawn in the sand.
Posted by
SF Bay Area
330 posts
Thank you for this information! I am coming to Preston in August for a course. Good to know.
Posted by
Preston UK
1232 posts
Coming to Preston you should not have too much difficulty getting there by train. Although not a large city it is very well connected and has a larger station than you would expect. From Manchester airport (I hope you’re flying into MAN rather than a London airport), there are several direct trains an hour. Mostly run by Northern but also one an hour by Trans Pennine Express, which is the quickest option.
There will only really be an issue if there happens to be a strike on the day.
Posted by
OP
Lake District, England
8132 posts
This case is proving to be interesting.
As a result of it I have joined the Northern Customer Panel.
Out of the blue I have had a follow up email this morning from Northern on the specific issue of trains being removed late at night from the timetable. We have eight such trains on my local line today but this time they are being properly advertised as cancelled, as they should be. And by 7 o'clock in the morning the last trains in each direction tonight, both cancelled, already have replacement bus details advertised (operator and time)- which is unheard of.
Posted by
SF Bay Area
330 posts
Johnew52, thank you for the additional info! We will be staying in London and Cambridge for about a week to get over jet lag before the course. And yes, Preston looks very well connected! I was pleasantly surprised to find that even the fast trains stop in Preston! if I am reading the schedules right, some of the trains from Euston Station take only 2h9 to get to Preston, whereas it would be a 4h drive.
I'll actually be staying in Myerscough. Johnew52, I don't want to derail this thread, so please PM me if you prefer, but my husband noticed a restaurant in Myerscough called Billy Bob's :-) and is intrigued. Have you heard anything (good or bad) about it? I'll note that when in the UK we mostly stick to traditional English – and Indian – fare (we avoid American chains, and pass on Mexican and Korean food, as we get that back home!!), but my husband is intrigued ...