'u' on a time in East Coast strike timetable, help?

[CompactDstrxion]

Can I board 1S19 at Doncaster or not?

Can't find any explanation of what this means anywhere.

 

[Dai.]

I'm not an expert but I have googled it.

(WOO GOOGLE!)

http://www.hulltrains.co.uk/timetable.php

Hull Trains use "u" as picking passengers up only, so it's probably the same to avoid confusion.

 

[CompactDstrxion]

Which would probably also explain why there is no arrival time listed, as that would be of use to passengers seeking to disembark there.

Would help if East Coast actually explained this themselves though!

 

[Mojo]

Yes, 'u' in a timetable is commonly used to mean that the train stops to pick up passengers only, so you can board at Doncaster to head North. Conversely, 's' means the train stops to set down only, and you may not board, and should note that the train may leave early.

 

[merlodlliw]

Its explained here http://www.wrexhamandshropshire.co.uk/timetables.php hit Monday to Friday look at Wolverhampton.


BR used the same code at Watford Junction on intercities for years

 

[CompactDstrxion]

I was originally booked to travel later and this is now the last service to Edinburgh. So any idea why they have made this a pickup-only stop?

EDIT- Looks like to spread the load they want Donny pax from KGX to get on the previous service.

Seems to work well for me though, I'm actually travelling from WKF and Northern are running from there to Doncaster with a 23-minute connection for this service, could be worse.

 

[Helvellyn]

I was originally booked to travel later and this is now the last service to Edinburgh. So any idea why they have made this a pickup-only stop?

Well if it's the last Edinburgh service I expect it will be exceedingly busy, so they don't want passengers travelling KX to Doncaster using it. As it's a pick-up only it shouldn't show up in any timetable searches, nor be advertised at KX (where it should show as first stop York).

 

[ess]

what happens if a passenger defies the code?

 

[First class]

They would have to buy a new London - York Anytime ticket, as that is the next advertised stop. The Standard Open Single comes in at a nice £111.50.

If someone boarded a set down train at Watford Junction, with a Watford-London ticket, they could be charged for something like Runcorn-London instead, (the trains last stop).

Runcorn-London £122.50 Single
Watford-London £7.80 Single

Want to risk it?

 

[John @ home]

what happens if a passenger defies the code?

They would have to buy a new London - York Anytime ticket, as that is the next advertised stop. The Standard Open Single comes in at a nice £111.50.

Not on this occasion. Page 16 of the East Coast Train Times booklet 13 December 2009 - 22 May 2010 shows the 1400 from Kings Cross on Mondays to Fridays as Doncaster arr 1529 dep 1530.

The publication of this contradictory information has made any such charge unenforceable in this instance.

 

[yorkie]

what happens if a passenger defies the code?

If it is not advertised anywhere as being available for setting down, then anyone holding a London to Doncaster ticket could, in theory, be charged an overdistance excess to York.

 

[jopsuk]

Not on this occasion. Page 16 of the East Coast Train Times booklet 13 December 2009 - 22 May 2010 shows the 1400 from Kings Cross on Mondays to Fridays as Doncaster arr 1529 dep 1530.

The publication of this contradictory information has made any such charge unenforceable in this instance.

Are you sure? I'm pretty sure they would argue that the emergency timetable supercedes the original published timetable.

 

[John @ home]

I'm pretty sure they would argue that the emergency timetable supercedes the original published timetable.

They may well argue it. But the argument is unlikely to be successful.

Written contracts
7. - (2) If there is doubt about the meaning of a written term, the interpretation which is most favourable to the consumer shall prevail but this rule shall not apply in proceedings brought under regulation 12.

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1999/19992083.htm

 

[royaloak]

So you are saying that an old timetable supercedes a new one, good luck on that one!

The old timetable is no longer in use (check the small print on the new one, it will have something on the lines of "this timetable supercedes and replaces any previous timetable") therefore 7-(2) doesnt apply, now if BOTH timetables were in force you would be correct but they are not.

 

[yorkie]

(check the small print on the new one, it will have something on the lines of "this timetable supercedes and replaces any previous timetable") therefore 7-(2) doesnt apply, now if BOTH timetables were in force you would be correct but they are not.

The small print on the new one? Hang on, if you've already bought a ticket based on the normal timetable you'd not be checking the new one and any small print on the new one would not apply to that contract. There's no way they could excess someone who bought their ticket on the basis of the normal timetable. They could, of course, deny them boarding if there is a barrier check (and pay compensation if applicable on DelayRepay) but they cannot charge an excess if the contract has not been breached. If someone buys a ticket on the day and is advised that a new timetable is in operation then that's a different matter.

 

[Mojo]

Given that the new timetable apparently doesn't say what 'u' means (I haven't checked, but the OP says so), then I don't see how they could charge!

 

[First class]

The EC website links to a timetable key:

E Electric train set
HST Diesel train set
FX Fridays excepted
FO Fridays only
MSX Mondays excepted
MO Mondays only
..u.. pick up only
..s.. set down only
Restaurant service

 

[royaloak]

The small print on the new one? Hang on, if you've already bought a ticket based on the normal timetable you'd not be checking the new one and any small print on the new one would not apply to that contract. There's no way they could excess someone who bought their ticket on the basis of the normal timetable. They could, of course, deny them boarding if there is a barrier check (and pay compensation if applicable on DelayRepay) but they cannot charge an excess if the contract has not been breached. If someone buys a ticket on the day and is advised that a new timetable is in operation then that's a different matter.

If a ticket was bought based on the timetable that SHOULD have been valid on the day of travel then I would hope that it would be honoured as it was bought in good faith and the ticket holder had based the decision to travel on the information that was valid for the journey on the day it was booked.

If anybody had a problem travelling then I would be siding with Yorkie (and I haven't had a drink )

 

[TheExmoorBeast]

Are you sure you've not been on the grog?

 

[royaloak]

had a few now.