Reminder Please on Connections with an Advance ticket

[whole diary]

[eightf48544]

i am looking to go from Taplow to Lincoln on 5th August I get a good through advanced fare ^16.15 via Kings Cross and either via Peterborough or Newark. The Advance bit is presumably on EC so if I get the train from Taplow as stated on the itinery and it's delayed and I miss the connenction at Kings Cross can i travel on a later train?

Also coming back from Shireoaks? on Friday if I miss the connection at Retford

[grahame]

i am looking to go from Taplow to Lincoln on 5th August I get a good through advanced fare ^16.15 via Kings Cross and either via Peterborough or Newark. The Advance bit is presumably on EC so if I get the train from Taplow as stated on the itinery and it's delayed and I miss the connenction at Kings Cross can i travel on a later train?

Also coming back from Shireoaks? on Friday if I miss the connection at Retford

If you miss a train that's advertised as a connection and ticketed to you as a through journey on an advanced fare due to a failure of the connecting train to make the advertised connection, then you're able to travel on the first available train run by the same company for which you hold the advanced ticket.

<pedant>
So ... with an East Coast advanced ticket, a delay into Paddington such that you miss the train from King's Cross lets you drop back to the next available East Coast train.   It doesn't allow you to travel on a Hull trains service if that goes out next, nor does it let you decide because you've been delayed and especially wanted to go on an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) service to hang around at King's Cross for an HST rather than an electric.

Similar thing on the way back ... although your question is slightly different.   If you miss the connection because of a train delay, the same thing applies.   If you miss it because you've queued in the buffet at Retford and the King's Cross train arrived and left while you were having your Pannini toasted ... or because you got caught short in the loo ... it's a different matter.
</pedant>

That's how I understand it, anyway!

[ChrisB]

Also, if you choose to catch a later connection that suggested, you may not be allowed on a later train. Any connectional; train earlier than suggested is open to you.

[Southern Stag]

For unreserved legs on Advance fares you are free to take any other non-reservable service, so any between Taplow and London. Taking one later than suggested is obviously not advisable but you could take one earlier to be on the safe side if you wanted. On the return if you arrived early at Paddington and there is an earlier train to Taplow available you could take that.

[eightf48544]

Thanks that's what I thought but it's nice to have it confirmed. One further wrinkle I may be coming back from Shirebrook or Worksop If I buy a ticket from Shirebrook to Taplow would I be able to join at Worksop (nearer Retford) or should I buy a ticket from Worksop and if necessary a single Shirebrook Worksop on the day.

[LiskeardRich]

On an Advance Ticket you must travel between the stations named. You mustn't start/ finish short.

[ChrisB]

Becomes an invalid ticket, so you'd be buying another full price, on the spot. Ouch.

[eightf48544]

Thanks once again that's what I thought so I'll probably buy a Worksop Taplow and a single on the day from Shirebrook to Worksop if I travel from there.

[thetrout]

Rather than create another thread, can I ask a question on a similar structure.

I've got a First Advance Booked from Frome - Souffend this Friday. I have a change at Westbury, Bath Spa & X-London

I have a reservation coupon for Westbury - Bath Spa (One of the 3 SWT^▸ (South West Trains) Services of the day) and Bath Spa - London Paddington.

As I have a change at Westbury regardless, because of that SWT service, would I be able to take an earlier train to Westbury leave the station for a few hours and then come back for my reserved SWT service to Bath Spa?

Or would I need to buy a CDR^▸ (Off Peak Day Return [ticket type] (formerly 'Cheap Day')) at ^2.65 from Frome - Westbury and take the 20:37 to Frome step off the train there and step back on the same train for the 21:02?

I suspect I already know the answer to this one... and I suspect I will have to find 265p and not the 265 Bus Service

(the 20:37 Terminates at Frome )

[JayMac]

Difficult to answer without knowing your departure time from Frome.

What is your full advised itinerary?

Generally, if a train is non-reservable on the first leg of an Advance Purchase journey then you are free to take an earlier service to your interchange. You must however travel on reserved services as per your itinerary.

[thetrout]

Thanks BNM. Your answer slightly surprised me as I was expecting a blanket no because of the break of journey rule.

21:02 Departure from Frome change at WSB^» (Westbury - next trains) for the SWT^▸ (South West Trains) Service to BTH^» (Bath Spa - next trains) which connects to the 22:02 to London Paddington. The former has no reservation whereas the latter SWT Service.

Hence my comment about returning to Frome on the 20:37 to catch the 21:02, despite it being the same train, as the 20:37 terminates at Frome.

[LiskeardRich]

Thanks BNM. Your answer slightly surprised me as I was expecting a blanket no because of the break of journey rule.

Technically correct, however I've yet to see this enforced. I used advances from Gatwick to Truro recently, my flight was on time and efficient at getting us off, so I caught the Gatwick - Reading non reserved leg 2 hours early (I booked my advance with a buffer to allow for late arrival of flight), and went into Reading for some dinner. No questions or problems asked by Reading. I should expect similar treatment, or more relaxed at Westbury.

[eightf48544]

Well I've got my tickets, through Chiltern which I always use.

Only KX Newark reserved outward but interesting enough I'm coming back from Worksop to Slough (EC reserved fro REtford to KX)  and have a reserved seat on on the 19:22 Hereford which as it's a Friday and the train is usually full and standing from Padd I hope to use.

[grahame]

... and have a reserved seat on on the 19:22 Hereford ...

Bit of a double-edged sword, though ... it means that you're not permitted to catch an earlier train out of Paddington if you happen to arrive in KX on time and then get an excellent connection to Paddington.

[eightf48544]

Off to Lincoln today will report on journies when I get back from Worksop.