Train delay compensation

[mooretoffees]

On Sunday 9th February we were due to return from London Euston with a non peak ticket. The original train time was 13:40 depart, because we were both up early and had a non peak ticket that states any route we got ready and left. Completely unaware of the rail issues we boarded the train at 10:46. This train was delayed waiting for a driver. We stopped outside Rugby because the station was full of trains waiting for relief drivers, we eventually got in around 13:15. We were getting updates from the train manager saying they were waiting for a relief driver who was stuck in Crewe. When one came we waited another 30 minutes and then were told, over 3 hours after we got into Rugby, the train had terminated and we had two choices. We could either stay on and go back to Euston or get to platform two and board a train to Manchester. When we got to that train it was full to bursting. We spoke to a lady in customer services who said there was another train to Manchester but she didn’t know when. We asked her if it would be a good idea to abandon our journey in Rugby and try again tomorrow, she replied it probably would be. So we booked into a Travelodge and came home early Monday morning.*

We have tried to claim our return ticket back but Avanti have rejected the claim stating the “the ticket provided was not valid for the journey claimed for” is there anything we can do? Can we claim for the extra hotel stay?****