Great Western Coffee Shop

Unusually for me I have to work today (Sunday) which involved traveling back from the West Country on Saturday Evening to Newbury.

With the line closed between Westbury and Newbury, some of the trains were still calling at Westbury and then traveling via Melksham to Reading - I route I have much about on the Coffee Shop but never actually traveled on. So a first for me.

Engineering works need to be done and I would much rather have a usable alternative rather that board a rail relief bus. My only gripe is that I was forced to buy a via Reading ticket for my return journey rather than a direct one which is slightly cheaper.
 
When engineering works preclude a specific route should FGW take the hit on the fare when the traveller is forced to take a longer route.  I personally think that they should. Just wondered what the actual rules are and what people think ???

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but it can't be right that you had to pay a higher fare because you HAD to travel via Reading to get back to Newbury because your train was diverted as I don't believe replacement buses operate between Westbury-Newbury. If they had then yes you would have had to pay a bit extra to travel via Reading because an alternative replacement bus was in operation.

Both FGW website and Newbury Ticket office confirmed that the higher fare was payable - the only route available was via Reading as replacement buses were only going as far as Bedwyn (see below)

Sat 17 & Sun 18 October. Paddington to Penzance route via Newbury and Pewsey

On Saturday 17 and all day Sunday 18 October 2009 track improvement work will be taking place between Reading and Westbury via Newbury.

Trains between London Paddington and Newbury, Pewsey, Westbury, Taunton, Exeter St Davids, Paignton, Plymouth and Penzance will be retimed and services will also be diverted via an alternative route.

Replacement buses will also be in operation between Newbury and Bedwyn and between Pewsey and Swindon.
 
Customers travelling on this route are advised to use the journey planner to check journey times before travelling.

These alterations to the scheduled timetable is due to essential engineering work being carried out on the railway line.

What needs to be checked is if they have been excessing pax who already had their normal tickets. Personally I have never heard of fares being raised for a compulsory diversion - I 'd be very surprised if (say) Westbury - Paddington passengers were excessed as they weren't doubling back. It sounds as though they've made some sort of cockup with the fares database, I suspect a complaint is due. All ticket office staff can do is sell what is currently allowed by the system AFAICT.

Paul