Originally Posted by
corporate-wage-slave
Give it a go. There isn't a specific right to a train ticket under EC261 but many passengers have been refunded train fares. Not sure about 1st class specifically. Taxi fares are capped at £50. If BA refuse - and MAN was impractical plus there was no other service from LBA that day - then it may be open to using EC261 in court or CEDR, based on the principle that BA have not given you a reasonable same day alternative.
Thanks a lot cws and others for the info. I fear I may have forfeited any rights then as I was offered the later flight at 19.20 but decided against it as, if it were cancelled too there'd be almost no way home for me at that time, living nearly 2 hours from Heathrow. Seems that turned out to be a legitimate concern! I hadn't considered Manchester at all mind you.
I ended up getting a taxi to Heathrow with 2 other people, which we realised would cost less per person than a taxi to the train station and a train ticket. I guess just speculatively try and claim for 1/3 of the taxi cost and don't hold out too much hope? I also bought some food and non alcoholic drinks. I expect they'll refund for that at least?