A few months ago I posted regarding engineering works forcing me to drive to work - and costing me about 4 times as much as the train – because First Capital Connect refused to provide a bus service to replace their regular timetable.

I wrote to FCC asking for compensation to the tune of 79 miles at the standard £0.40 per mile, minus the cost of what the train ticket would have cost me (£7.90), a total of £23.70. I also asked for a reassurance that if engineering works affected regular arrival times in the future, they would run a replacement bus service to arrive at least as early as the first train normally would.

This is the response I received (click the image to see the original, or below for the text:

As you know, on the above day [22nd August 2010] engineering works were taking place on the route. This meant we were unable to run our usual train service. We always try to minimise disruption where possible with most works taking place at nights or weekends.

Because of possible changes to the timetable, we would always recommend that customer check their journey details before they set out (which I understand you did).

However, engineering works are essential and on this occasion were advertised in advance. While I do appreciate that you decided to drive to get to work on time, we won’t be able to offer any compensation towards the petrol you spent. If you purchased a rail ticket prior or have a season ticket then please send this into us.

I hope we have been able to clarify our policy on this matter.

Some points…

I appreciate engineering work has to take place, and grudgingly accept that the best time to do this in the evenings and weekends when less – but importantly not ‘no’ – people are travelling. Inevitably, when engineering works are taking place, trains will be disrupted or possibly not run at all.

While I do accept this, I consider the timetable – the regular one printed in the thick booklets twice a year – to be a form of contract between the TOC and customer, especially when it comes to first and last trains of the day.  If the timetable states the first train should arrive at a certain time, then the company should ensure that the first replacement bus arrives at that time, even if it has to depart earlier.

FCC suggested that I “decided” to drive to work and “decided” to spend more money than I had to. This is incorrect. As a freelance shift worker, if I’m an hour late for work, I don’t get invited back – simple as. I was forced to drive to work by a train company which has no respect for its off-peak travellers.

My final thought is this – if I did have a season ticket (I don’t, because I travel such a mix of peak and off-peak that it doesn’t justify it, price-wise), it’s implied that I would have been able to claim for the delay – even if I hadn’t even intended to make the journey. In fact, anyone with a season ticket could, in theory, have made some money out of the set of engineering works on the Sunday in question by claiming they wanted to travel on one of the first two regular trains that day.

Perhaps this thought will make First Capital Connect “clarify their policy on this matter”.

(Incidentally, this past weekend there were engineering works between Flitwick and Bedford, during which FCC were running a shuttle bus between these two stations. Yet East Midlands Trains were stopping at Luton/Parkway and Bedford as normal – meaning that Harpenden and south passengers would have been much better changing at Luton/Parkway and getting this superior service to Bedford instead of sitting on the 40-minute bus journey. Would FCC allow passengers from Flitwick, Harlington and Leagrave to travel to Luton and back up to Bedford on EMT rather than force them onto a longer journey on a bus without paying more for their journey? Don’t be silly!)

Anywho, you can read the whole document by downloading it here, but we have also summarised the main points below.

What can we get?

• A discount voucher to be redeemed when renewing a ticket either at an FCC booking office or via the FCC website
• Free tickets sent in the post
• A refund against the cost of their First Class ticket, in recognition that First Class was declassified for several weeks

The table below provides a guide as to what you may be able to claim for

How can I clam?

• From Wednesday 3 February until Sunday 31 March 2010, eligible Thameslink route season ticket customers will be able to apply for discounts, free tickets and refunds.
• Customers must complete an online application form available from Monday 8 February 2010 and provides proof of purchase.
• Customers can also fill in a paper application form and post it, along with proof of their tickets, to a special freepost address if unable to apply online.

Other useful Info

• Holders of inter-available season tickets, Oyster Travelcards, scholar/child season tickets, who fit the criteria outlined in the scheme’s terms and conditions, are also eligible.
• Free tickets can be given to friends and family to use.
• Tickets must be used by 31 December 2011.

It is still not clear how the compensation will be paid, if it will only be paid to annual season ticket holders, or if monthly ticket holders and oyster travelcard users will be also be compensated. IhateThameslink will be meeting with FCC and will be discussing compensation amongst other issues. if you have a question you would like to ask , just post a comment below or tweet @ihatethameslink.

Read the full Time article here

It is still not clear how these free tickets will be issued, and how customers will be able to claim them. Stay tuned in to I hate thameslink for more info.

In other news, our friends over at Penalty Fare Appeal have been sent this shocking video of a FCC driver with the door to the driving cab open for the entire journey whilst also speaking to another member of staff. Not only is this extremely dangerous, especially during the recent spell of severe weather, but is against railway regulations.

The video has been submitted to FCC who are now investigating the incident.

BUT – how will this system work? Word on the street is that customers will be issues some kind of scratch card that will allow us to choose what day we want to use our free travel on.

Details are still being confirmed, and it is not clear what season ticket holders will qualify i.e. weekly / monthly season ticket holders / oyster travelcards.

Details to follow.