| Re: Clarification - Delay / repay on rail replacement buses Posted by grahame at 17:38, 12th October 2026 |     |
Having looked up ORR requirements, rail replacement buses must be shown on station departure boards in real time, so even somewhere like Melksham would show them on departure displays (although appears the departure board is whatever is there, (even a manual chalked up one)
The buses must also show correct destination (or rail replacement), not blank destination. Inside they have to have audio and visual announcements of the next stop, and if automatic announcements are not working then driver has to clearly use PA to announce approach to stops. (This has only been a recent 100% requirement, as transition since 2023 Public Service Vehicles Assessable Information legislation has now ended)
Seems to be more of a grey area regarding real time (eg GPS based) location data and times displayed on arrival boards. Currently appears to be more of an aspiration than an requirement.
I went down to Melksham Station at about quarter to three this afternoon (to see if the Smart Parking sign is still on show) and took the opportunity to observe.
At 14:40, The platform display said "No services from this platform'. The screen that overlooks the pick up and drop off car park area showed a number of buses - next one 15:00, to Chippenham, showing "on time"
At 15:08, I took another look at the display, and it said that the next service was bus to Westbury, "on time" for 16:10, with the next bus to Chippenham not until 17:26.
At 15:13, A bus rolls up headed to Chippenham.
Buses claiming to be "on time", not appearing and disappearing off the board seem calculated to mislead and worry customers. Buses can track these days, and if they're not doing so, the system should not say anything which might suggest that they are.
--------
Trains had passed through at 14:58 (southbound stone trucks) and 15:14 (northbound IET). Neither stopped.
| Re: Clarification - Delay / repay on rail replacement buses Posted by ChrisB at 15:44, 12th October 2026 | |
A quick Google search throws up the following
From National Rail website
A different timetable operates when rail replacement services are in use, and journeys may take longer than usual. However, if the replacement services are significantly delayed against that temporary change to the normal timetable, you can claim for delay compensation in the usual way.
From As an example, TfW has this
Buses can take longer to make a journey than trains. If you've made your journey on a planned rail replacement bus, we'll provide compensation if the bus arrives late, rather than the rail service it has replaced.
If you've caught an emergency rail replacement bus that wasn't planned in advance, we'll provide compensation based on the time your train was scheduled to arrive.
If you've caught an emergency rail replacement bus that wasn't planned in advance, we'll provide compensation based on the time your train was scheduled to arrive.
| Clarification - Delay / repay on rail replacement buses Posted by grahame at 13:38, 12th October 2026 | |
Can you confirm my understanding here - as I understood it, a rail replacement bus is in effect a trin on the road, and if a GWR rail replacement bus gets held up, you can claim delay/repay in just the same way.
I am answering ...
Darren Carey
If you use bus replacement you need a ticket and no delay repay will denie any claim
If you use bus replacement you need a ticket and no delay repay will denie any claim
My reply
Darren Carey - No - you are wrong. A rail replacement bus counts as a train as far as delay/repay is concerned. However, rail replacement buses typically don't track so you may have to appeal an initial automated denial as it assumes buses are on time.
If you use a normal registered public bus then, yes, there is no commitment from either the bus or the train company so compensate or make other arrangements for you if a delay or cancellation results in a missed connection.
If you use a normal registered public bus then, yes, there is no commitment from either the bus or the train company so compensate or make other arrangements for you if a delay or cancellation results in a missed connection.
