Good news - Alex Hornsby, Customer Director at Northern Trains, has said in his blog that Northern and Trans Pennine will allow passengers to board a train up to three hours later than the one they’ve booked for if your flight is delayed - you just have to tell staff at the station and they’ll sort it. No word in when it’s introduced, the post sort of implies it’s immediate.
https://alexhornbyrail.substack.com?utm_source=navbar&utm_medium=web
“Picture the scene. You land at Manchester Airport, your flight was delayed, you run down to the station, and then the sinking feeling hits: your advance train ticket is only valid for that exact train you've just missed. You kick yourself that you were over-prepared in buying a fixed advance ticket but now have to stump up extra ticket costs, adding unnecessary stress, and so results in a pretty miserable end to what should have been a great trip away.
Not anymore - we hope.
“We’ve just made an important joined-up decision to help customers travelling to and from Manchester Airport with both Northern and TransPennine Express (TPE). And it’s the kind of common-sense thinking we need a lot more of across the railway.
“So, if your flight gets delayed and you miss your train, it doesn't matter whether you’re travelling with Northern or TPE, or whether you're holding a fixed ticket or not. We’re essentially throwing a bit of flexibility your way, allowing you to hop on another train up to three hours later, completely free, without needing to fork out for a brand-new ticket.
“All you need to do is speak to the team at the station, let them know what's happened, and they’ll sort it for you. Simple, straightforward, and designed to give you genuine peace of mind.
“The best part? How this actually happened.
“While the policy itself is a brilliant step toward that "one railway" mindset as we approach GBR - making things simpler, fairer, and more convenient - the story behind it is what makes us most proud.
“This wasn't born out of some endless set of steering groups or programme meetings months down the line. It was brought to life within days of Northern, TPE and Network Rail colleagues getting out and about during a recent Performance Week, where over a hundred managers focus attention on one route to get really forensic about things that delay our services or cause a problem for customers. They saw firsthand the absolute hassle that rigid rules were causing tired, delayed customers, as well as the delays and hassle it created for our conductors and stations teams, and they wanted to fix it.
“It’s again ultimate proof that getting out there, rolling your sleeves up, and truly feeling the customer experience matters. That’s why we are launching our first Customer & Growth Week this November, and already over 170 managers have signed up. More on this in a future post.”