Advance Train Tickets

yorkie2

Yes, the public rule is you may take ANY "appropriate" connecting service.

The Guidance given to staff (in the form of the FAQ) is that passengers may take alternative non-reserveable trains. There is nothing in the rules stating such trains must be non-reservable though, but I'll leave people to make their own conclusions on that....!

By the way, as per the note which I added to the top of the post by hairyhandedfool on the RailUK Forum, the version of the Advance FAQs linked to isn't the currentversion of the Advance FAQs. However there's no material change in this respect. The latest version is a PDF attachment, which we received from ATOC and is included in our Fares Guide.

Altarf

alistairstubbs wrote: »

The reason I ask is that the time between trains at crew is only 11 mins and Arriva trains are not that usually on time and I don't want to miss the Virgin train

Unless you need to arrive at a specific time, catch the train with the short connection, hope it is late, and then claim Delay Repay for a cheaper journey.

dggar

Altarf wrote: »

Unless you need to arrive at a specific time, catch the train with the short connection, hope it is late, and then claim Delay Repay for a cheaper journey.

Is there a minimum delay time for a Delay Repay claim to be valid?

yorkie2

30 minutes, on Train Companies which have Delay Repay schemes.

trukdiver

yorkie2 wrote: »

30 minutes, on Train Companies which have Delay Repay schemes.

Virgin does. I got a voucher for the full fare for a 1 hour delay at Christmas. They were very quick sending it as well ( unlike Southern!).

whitesatin

I have a similar situation with a return trip to Glasgow. I have purchased advance first class (very reasonable, as it happens). The trip from my local station to Euston is shown when I book but I don't think it shows on the ticket. That part can't be reserved so maybe won't be first class. Not worried about that, as long as I can get a slightly earlier train to ensure I get to Euston on time (it is a Sunday). Otherwise, it will be too tight, given my hip problem. The return is from Glasgow to Milton Keynes by Virgin then Southern trains to my local destination. There is only 15 minutes between arrival and departure at MK so I am a bit concerned that I will not make it as I am not sure how big MK station is. If I can only travel on Southern trains, as per the booking, I will have to wait an hour. I wouldn't want to risk getting on another train as I might end up having to pay more. That leg of the journey is non reserved but I still think I need to travel on Southern. It is all a bit confusing and the margins between trains are not really realistic. I suppose it is what I need to expect if I want cheap travel.

Quentin

You don't get penalised if you miss a connection and are blameless.


(Book assistance at the station if you are disabled)

yorkie2

whitesatin wrote: »

I have a similar situation with a return trip to Glasgow. I have purchased advance first class (very reasonable, as it happens). The trip from my local station to Euston is shown when I book but I don't think it shows on the ticket. That part can't be reserved so maybe won't be first class. Not worried about that, as long as I can get a slightly earlier train to ensure I get to Euston on time (it is a Sunday). Otherwise, it will be too tight, given my hip problem. The return is from Glasgow to Milton Keynes by Virgin then Southern trains to my local destination. There is only 15 minutes between arrival and departure at MK so I am a bit concerned that I will not make it as I am not sure how big MK station is. If I can only travel on Southern trains, as per the booking, I will have to wait an hour. I wouldn't want to risk getting on another train as I might end up having to pay more.

No, you're perhaps thinking of the taxi industry, where a delay can increase the passengers' costs.

The rail industry is very different, and if you are delayed you are absolutely not penalised. On the contrary, you are entitled to compensation if you are 30+ minutes late into your destination. This is much more generous than the airline or bus industries!

whitesatin wrote: »

That leg of the journey is non reserved but I still think I need to travel on Southern. It is all a bit confusing and the margins between trains are not really realistic. I suppose it is what I need to expect if I want cheap travel.

Without knowing what the origin, destination, and routeing of your ticket is, it's difficult to say what the validity is.

However if your train misses the connection at MKC, it is likely that Virgin would be keen for you to remain on board and make the journey by LU to Victoria, if practicable, and take a train from there to your destination. This avoids a lengthy wait for you and subsequent 1 hour delay (and minimises their compensation liabilities; you might not arrive much later).

whitesatin

Not disabled enough to claim to be that but suffering from a bad spell of arthritis at the moment (hopefully better next month when I need to travel if possible). I am just slowing down and can't rush as much as I once could have.

Yes, I can imagine that Virgin would prefer that I stayed on but I would be arriving at Euston in the rush hour so changing at MK is a good option for me to get back home to Hertfordshire. This is the first time the journey has worked out that way and I only really noticed after confirming my booking but as it suits me, that's no problem. I just worry about connections.

yorkie2

If you deliberately delay your journey longer than is necessary, in order to benefit from an easier interchange, I don't think you are eligible for Delay Compensation.
However I do believe it is you right to stick to the same route from the point of view of being valid on the next train.

In any case, your Advance ticket will be routed "+VWC and Connections", for which you are only reserved on the specific Virgin (West Coast) service, and you may use any appropriate service as your connection. You are not tied to any train on the connecting leg from MKC to whatever station you're travelling to, and even if you were, that wouldn't apply in the case of a delay.

Whatever way you look at it, you have nothing to worry about in the case of a delay.