Did I need to pay for a ticket?

[ticketstickets]

Hi, wondering who is right in this situation. I had to catch a flight home (I don't live in UK) from Birmingham aiport last week so I caught a train from Oxford. 1 hour train journey. Unforunately the train hit a car at a level crossing, and we were all stuck on the train for several hours. We were told the train had hit an 'obstruction' - I only know what happened from googling it afterwards. (i think everyone involved is ok).

I missed my flight and looked for a new flight from a different airport, (flights from BHM was prohibitive) when we (finally) got to the next station we all got off train and were told we could return to Oxford or take the next train on to our original destination. I asked if it would be ok to take the train to a different destination (Manchester) using my original ticket and was told that would be fine. I then went ahead and booked an airline ticket from Manchester.

I went through several ticket barriers (I had to change trains) and each time explained what happened and was waved through.

Shorthly before I go to final destination a ticket checker came along and asked for my ticket. Yet again I explained what happened but she told me I had to pay for a new ticket from Birmingham to Manchester. I told her several officials had assured me I did not have to pay any extra, and I was already well out of pocket with having to buy new airline tickets.

She got very annoyed and said someone had died (they hadnt as far as I can see from news reports and up to that point I had no idea the accident involved other people). I said I didn't have the money for a new ticket. She made me fill out a form with my contact information, show proof of address so the train company can come after me for the money.

Should I have paid for a new ticket? Who is right?

To add - on original train the very nice and helpful conducter (not sure if that was her job title) came around and gave us forms to fill out with our contact information - seems we might get some sort of compensation for the inconvenience? the accident is certainly not the fault of the train company. We were asked on the form if we had any other travel arrangements that would be disrupted due to the delay.

You were given permission by an authorised person to travel, so legally you're in the right. Presuming though that you didn't have that permission in writing, you'll struggle to prove it.

Was the address you gave an overseas one?

You should have bought a ticket and then tried to claim it back . Was it even the same train company ?

No, you shouldn’t have to pay for another ticket. You had asked for and received assurances all the way along the line (literally!) that it wouldn’t be necessary.

Who told you it was ok? Staff on the train or on the station?
Was it Banbury you all had to get off at? That station is run by Chiltern Trains - but I am guessing the train you were on was a Cross Country one (I'm a train nerd 🙂).
I think you need to contact the train company whose staff member told you that you it was ok to travel on and take it from there. If it turns out to be you were given the wrong information or confusing information you might not have to pay.
Which is why you need to know if it was Chiltern or Cross Country.

To add.... before you forget details write down what you remember about the staff member who told you and all the information of when/where it happened. So male/female, approximate age, conversation was on platform X at whatever time etc.
That way they might be able to identify which staff member it was.

Yes it was Banbury station. First train was cross country, pretty sure second train was too.

Both the conducter from the train and a station official in Banbury told me it was ok to take the train on to Manchester, and told me what train to take.

I would contact Banbury Station/Chiltern Trains first and see what they say.
Fingers crossed 🤞

just checked trains from Banbury to manchester, it was definitely cross country. All the trains I took that day were cross country.

Anyone who has been in a similar situation, will they actually contact me, either to offer compensation for the delay, or asking for money for the ticket?

Next time I am in a similar situation I will absolutely get it in writing! I guess they could have given me an actual ticket.

Contact the company’s customer services and explain the situation, including staff telling you that you were fine to travel to Manchester. They will likely respond confirming that you owe nothing, and should there be any attempt to pursue you, you can then pass this to them to deal with, safe in the knowledge that this is all on record and should be easy to resolve when you have the company confirming your position in writing.

Whike you were authorised, you forgot to take any documentation or references confirming this, so it will become a 'he said/she said' situation, as im sure the original train company will keep its head in the sand and refuse to accept liability for something outside of their network (the manchester leg of your journey)

If you decide to dispute this with the railway companies, one of t local bbc radio stations (bbc 3 counties radio) does a great consumer rights show, (the JVS show) the chap who presents it is like a real life Alan Partridge mixed with Esther Ransom, but is really great are holding big companies to account and getting results.

You claim delay repay compensation yourself, either from the operator's website or if you bought from a third party agent you need to go back through them.
https://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/customer-service/contact-us/delay-repay

What paperwork did the inspector on your final train give you?