What are the options for travelling to London on a day of train strikes?

Simon Calder answers your questions on alternative transport to London, claiming compensation and Flybe’s collapse

More train strikes are taking place this week to create headaches for commuters (Simon Calder)

Q I am at my wit’s end. I'm really keen to plan some visits to family, and trips to London, to help me cheer me up after what feels like an incredibly long January. But with the seemingly endless rail strikes, I'm finding it impossible to plan. Do you have any advice or insights, or do I just have to keep guessing?

Carol H

A As you know, the next round of national rail strikes gets under way on Wednesday. Train drivers belonging to the Aslef union, as well as the few who belong to the RMT union, will walk out from 15 train operators on 1 and 3 February. There will be some trains on three strike-hit operators: LNER, Great Western and Greater Anglia. But the remaining dozen, including Avanti West Coast, East Midlands Trains and CrossCountry, will shut down. ScotRail, Transport for Wales and a few other operators will be unaffected as they are not in dispute. But for the majority of travellers, journeys will not be possible.

Disruption has happened sporadically since midsummer 2022, and has scuppered tens of millions of journeys since then – as well as undermining confidence in the rail industry. Aslef vs the train operators (actually directed by the government) is only one of three disputes; the RMT vs the train operators and vs Network Rail are also continuing. But I predict some good news on two of those fronts: I believe that the RMT disputes will soon end with staff reluctantly accepting the offers from train firms and Network Rail.

That will stabilise the industry a little, but of course the train drivers are entirely free to strike repeatedly in pursuit of their interests. With a salary level significantly above other rail workers (averaging over £60,000 annually), they are more able to cope with the financial loss involved in stopping work. Talks do not appear to be progressing. All you can do at this stage is plan your excursions no more than two weeks in advance – because that is the minimum advance notice of industrial action the union is required to give.

If it helps, the train drivers have tended not to strike on Sundays and Mondays, so you could take a punt on those days. But be warned that on some operators, Sunday services are reliant on staff working overtime and tend to be even less resilient than the rest of the week.

Meanwhile, long-distance coach firms continue to offer excellent services. If you are happy for your journey to take a little longer and perhaps be less comfortable, I recommend National Express, Flixbus and Megabus. But book more than two weeks ahead – because as soon as rail strike is called, demand and fares surge and seats disappear.

The airline’s demise has left a lot of customers confused about refunds (AFP/Getty)

Q I have forward bookings with Flybe. I booked direct and paid by credit card. Now that the airline has closed down, do I need to go to our bank to apply for a refund?

James D

A The sad second demise of Flybe has left an estimated 75,000 people in your position: holding bookings on an airline that has been permanently grounded. Fortunately, you are in a strong position, since your card issuer will refund your cash in full. Yes, you must apply for a refund – but that should be a straightforward process. They will be expecting you.

If you paid more than £100 in a single transaction, a credit card issuer has a legal duty to refund you under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. This makes the card provider jointly liable with the merchant, in this case Flybe, for the provision of the service. But even if you used a debit card, or a credit card for less than £100, the “chargeback” procedure will work in your favour.

In this context, with the airline no longer being a going concern, chargeback means the bank refunding you the money you spent on a service that has not been, or will not be, provided. It is a voluntary rather than obligatory arrangement, but all the major UK card issuers are signed up for it.

Most banks make claiming by either route straightforward. Barclaycard, for example, suggests you go online, find the Flybe payment and click on “Help with this transaction”. Santander also recommends online claims. Other providers may ask you to phone.

You may be asked if your purchase was Atol-protected; I imagine it is very unlikely that you bought the flight as part of a package holiday, but if I am wrong then you will be directed to the Civil Aviation Authority.

People who booked through online travel agents are, unfortunately, in a weaker position than you and may not qualify easily for a refund even if they paid by card. The presence of an intermediary makes the law and banking practice cloudier.

Almost three years after the first version went bust, the near-identical successor (same planes, same brand, similar network) also failed (PA)

Q I was waiting on £220 flight compensation from Flybe, which was approved in early January, but I hadn’t received it. I presume I am not getting it now?

Julie A

A At 4am yesterday morning, the Civil Aviation Authority announced that the second incarnation of the UK regional airline Flybe had gone out of business. Almost three years after the first version went bust, the near-identical successor (same planes, same brand, similar network) also failed.

The airline’s collapse hits several cohorts. Most of concern are the staff, some of whom were working for Flybe Mk 1 and have therefore seen their employer close down twice. Fortunately, demand for aviation professionals is high, and within a few hours both easyJet and British Airways had appealed for Flybe staff to contact them with a view to a job.

Passengers are next on my list: present and future. Those with immediate travel plans will need to rely upon the good nature of other airlines (and even the LNER train operator, which offered free transportation) to help out. British Airways and easyJet are offering “rescue fares” for around £50 one way including baggage on routes that paralleled Flybe. Longer term, fares are likely to rise a little and options reduce as a result of the collapse, but in the overall scheme of things the new Flybe was a minor player.

I am not sure if the next group, investors, deserve much sympathy: had they sought friendly and impartial advice from observers of aviation, they would have been warned off the whole project of reviving a tarnished brand.

But the final segment of interested parties – unsecured creditors like you – have definitely been let down. I am afraid that anyone who had a legitimate claim under European air passengers’ rights rules for a delayed or cancelled flight with Flybe is likely to end up penniless. The carrier earned the nickname “FlyMaybe” because of its frequent cancellations, and possibly owes hundreds of thousands of pounds in compensation. You can register a claim with the administrators by emailing flybecustomers@interpathadvisory.com and explaining your situation. It may be that they can recover a few pence in every pound owed to you. But in your position, I am afraid I would write off the debt.

Email your question to s@hols.tv or tweet @simoncalder