We are flying to London on 10/1 and plan to take train to Edinburg. In addition, for 2 weeks, we will travel throughout Scotland by train. Is this doable with the strikes going on? Should I cancel and go at a later date?? Driving a car through the UK is not appealing to me. Thank you for any feedback.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32746 posts
Barbara, this is the first post about the UK nationwide train strikes in the Transportation Forum... For lots more details about the strikes you can find updates on each strike in the England Forum, as soon as I (or others) know about or details about a strike the details are posted there.
There has to be 14 days notice of any UK strike - trains, buses, anything. No strikes have yet been called for October in the rail sector. Scotrail has had a settlement but long distance trains to Edinburgh start in England and if there were a strike affecting your journey north or south you might be affected.
There are 3 strikes currently planned for September, and we got a new Prime Minister today. Presumably there will be a new Minister for Transport, as the train companies can't do anything without the nod from Central Government.
What will that mean for October. I have absolutely no clue.
What later date do you propose to move your holiday to? Are there other things that would make that less desirable.
I'm sorry , I deal in facts, I don't often give answers to "should I". I don't know you or your circumstances.
Posted by
Pittsburgh, USA
295 posts
Barbara, I got an email from LNER today saying that a strike is planned for the 15th. My son and I are supposed to go from London to Edinburgh that day.
Travel disruptions are a part of the process of course, though we are staying in an airbnb who cannot accommodate us an additional night if we get stuck. London is not a place I'd want to find last minute accommodations... I'm not sure if I should sit tight or start looking for alternate transportation/accommodations now.
Posted by
1 posts
The September strikes have been canceled and new ones added for October 1, 5, and 8. I bought a ticket yesterday for a train from Cambridge to London on October 8. I don't know what to do. Do I wait to see if maybe there are actually a few trains running? Do I try to get a refund? Do I try to get a bus/coach ticket?
This is especially aggravating for tourists who are trying to stick to a schedule.
Posted by
Freedonia
14994 posts
You can't get a refund, unless it's a refundable ticket, until the train is officially canceled. Even if it is cancelled, and they are running other trains on that route that day, you could use your ticket on another service.
If I really needed to get to London that day, I'd probably get a bus ticket. Of course, if the strike is cancelled, you will have two tickets.
Yes, it is an inconvenience to travelers. Welcome to the world of travel. This is nothing. At least with this you get a warning. I've been on trains where the entire route was canceled the same day due to mechanical issues. One train was cancelled two minutes before departure.