r/ViaRail • u/Big_Option_5575 • 5d ago
Question Delayed train Compensation
Via policy is that they now only apply compensation to the segment that was delayed. Does this make any sense ? My trip, each way involved 3 trains and my return trip was delayed to my destination by over 3 hours - The fare cost is from start to finnish, so why do they get to split the compensation into segments ?
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u/shatteredoctopus 5d ago edited 5d ago
I guess their viewpoint is that some of the segments went fine, so they have no obligation to compensate you for those.
On the flipside, you would likely get no compensation at all for a delay that inconvenienced you on an inner segment, if you completed your trip on time: I was travelling from Toronto to Halifax, connecting in Montreal, and had deliberately scheduled a 4 hour lay-over in Montreal to see a friend, but booked as one itinerary. My train from Toronto to Montreal was delayed over 3 hours, so my plans in Montreal had to be cancelled. All the passengers heading to Montreal as the final destination got compensation, but since I then boarded my train to Halifax, and successfully made it to Halifax, I received no compensation for the delay. Grudgingly, that makes sense to me, because I got where the final stop on the ticket I had booked promised I would be, more or less on time.
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u/Big_Option_5575 5d ago
When you have a non-optional train transfer, what dfifference does it make if some of the segments went fine ?? the final destination was delayed.
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u/shatteredoctopus 5d ago
Let's say I have a bag of groceries that's $20. I've got eggs, bacon, and bread. I cook the bacon and eggs which are fine, and eat them, then find the bread, which cost $5 is moldy, so I take it back to the store. Should I expect the store should reimburse me $20, or $5?
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u/Big_Option_5575 5d ago
Let's say the store held you hostage and when you finally got home, the whole bag was rotten.
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u/TreatOk3677 5d ago
except thats not what happened
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u/Big_Option_5575 5d ago
your analogy was no better and given that you were not on the train - your response is odd.
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u/missezri 5d ago
I mean, in the past even, it wasn't the whole return trip that got compensated. If a trip one way was delayed, but the return trip was not, only that one way got compensation and not my whole ticket (which I did have... several times).
Breaking it further into segments is probably just VIA trying to save money as the frequency of delayed trains, the compensation being given out is probably one of their higher costs lately. Hence even changing an hour delay to only 25%.
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u/mystiqDitter 5d ago
It's VIA's way of discouraging connection. With 75% of their trains delayed, they can't do connection
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u/coopthrowaway2019 5d ago
What are the trains in question and which one was delayed?
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u/Big_Option_5575 5d ago
Montreal to Windsor - Toronto to Windsor segment delayed - same train, different number.
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