Great Western Coffee Shop

I must admit in the past I've been the victim of being caught up in disruption when no information was forthcoming and it was everyone for themselves but the other day it was satisfying to be "ahead" of the crowd thanks to it.

There were problems near Swindon which meant single line working for a time and some trains cancelled for the "greater good".

I had an advance ticket for the 10:27 Reading to Swindon having travelled in from Bracknell. At 10:08 I checked the FGW Journeycheck page and it said the train would be diverted and not call at Swindon or Chippenham.  This wasn't yet shown on the departures screens at Reading.

A quick chat to the train manager of the earlier 10:11 to Swansea after it pulled in gave me permission to travel.  He was unaware of the problems ahead but took my word for it.  Especially good as not only was the 10:27 diverted but the next train was cancelled.

Result?  Very satisfied customer who arrived only three minutes later than planned after we were held up by the failed train which had caused the service to be thinned out.

Leaving aside the TM's common sense approach what is the position on advance tickets?  At times of disruption must you always take a later train or is an earlier train permissible?

In times of severe disruption to services, previous experience has shown me that IF you ask the TM before boarding you may be allowed to travel on an earlier train if you have an advance ticket for a later service that is either going to be delayed or cancelled. They may say yes, they may so no. I guess it can depend on how bad the disruption is or is likely to be but it never harms to ask first rather than take a risk of an excess fare later in the journey.

Most of the time when there is severe disruption to services, TOCs will waive restrictions on all tickets so you can travel on the first available service that you can get on to complete your journey.

Personal experience - earlier permitted.  15:55 Chippenham to Paddington cancelled;   I arrived at station at 15:40, and was able to travel on train at about 15:42 which was the delayed 15:25.  Checked with platform staff who were just slamming doors as I got onto the platform; TM was happy when he came around too.