Where to change

[whole diary]

[bobm]

Travelling from Swindon to Teignmouth, leaving at 08:27, the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website insists I change at Taunton onto  the 08:00 ex-Cardiff.  I assume with an off peak return (^51.50) I could change at Exeter St Davids onto the same train and spend longer on an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) and less on a 143, although my seat reservation would only be valid as far as Taunton and might be re-assigned after that.

However were I to get an Advamce I would have to go as booked and change at Taunton even though the second part of the journey is unreserved.

Is there anyway I can force it to make the change at Exeter (without buying separate, more expensive, tickets?

[Louis94]

Yes that's perfectly allowed, although its worth noting that the 0800 ex Cardiff isnt a 143, its normally a 3-car 158.

Not sure about changing where the booking engine makes you change trains, you could try forcing it 'via Exeter St Davids', but i'm not sure otherwise.

[Brucey]

Sites powered by WebTIS (e.g. Southern or Red Spotted Hanky) automatically suggest changing at Exeter St Davids for this service.

I did find a way of forcing WebTIS to issue changes at a different point, but I cannot seem to get this to work again.  It used to be very handy for my Milton Keynes to Portsmouth journeys as I could avoid changing at the horrid/noisy/unwelcoming Clapham Junction and instead change at slightly less unpleasant East Croydon.

[bobm]

Yes that's perfectly allowed, although its worth noting that the 0800 ex Cardiff isnt a 143, its normally a 3-car 158.

Not sure about changing where the booking engine makes you change trains, you could try forcing it 'via Exeter St Davids', but i'm not sure otherwise.

Must have got my classes muddled up - although from my notes the last couple of times I have caught the 08:00 it has been a 150 (150106 and 150121)

Sites powered by WebTIS (e.g. Southern or Red Spotted Hanky) automatically suggest changing at Exeter St Davids for this service.

I did find a way of forcing WebTIS to issue changes at a different point, but I cannot seem to get this to work again.  It used to be very handy for my Milton Keynes to Portsmouth journeys as I could avoid changing at the horrid/noisy/unwelcoming Clapham Junction and instead change at slightly less unpleasant East Croydon.

Thanks I will give that a try - many thanks and congrats on your promotion. 

[vacman]

It's booked as a 150/9.

[Louis94]

It's booked as a 150/9.

Ah yes, its booked that but due to current restrictions elsewhere the 3-car 150 is used on another diagram, and this one is generally booked a 158/9 so that ends up going to Paignton. It was 158956 today.

[fatcontroller]

There is only one 150/9 available at the moment an it spends its time on the other diagram.

A 3-car 158 can't go to Avonmouth at the moment unless a vehicle is locked out of use due to the useable platform length available at Avonmouth so this diagram has to be the 150/9 to provide the capacity.

Therefore the 158 ends up going to Paignton.