Last trains query

Chapeltom · 30 Oct 2010

I'm wanting to know where I stand with last trains and what happens if I miss the last train due to a delayed connecting train. The

I'm going to watch football at Bamber Bridge on Tuesday evening, and my itinerary will look something like this.

2149 to 2202 - Bamber Bridge to Preston - Northern
2210 to 2256 - Preston to Manchester Picc - TP Express
2310 to 2352 - Manchester Picc to Chapel en le Frith - Northern

It looks reasonable to me to get all three but if that first train is late by more than five minutes (which could easily happen) I'm pretty much screwed.

Does the responsibility lie with me or the train companies to get to me home if I can't get the second or third train due to delays?

Tom

RailUK Forums

CarterUSM · 30 Oct 2010

Chapeltom said:
I'm wanting to know where I stand with last trains and what happens if I miss the last train due to a delayed connecting train.

I'm going to watch football at Bamber Bridge on Tuesday evening and my itinerary will look something like this.

2149 to 2202 - Bamber Bridge to Preston - Northern
2210 to 2256 - Preston to Manchester Picc - TP Express
2310 to 2352 - Manchester Picc to Chapel en le Frith - Northern

Does the responsibility lie with me or the train companies to get to me home if I can't get the second or third train due to delays?

Tom

This is a good question mate! Theres a few threads going on about this sort of thing just now, sorry i cannot link you, i'm on phone, but they are generally about advance tickets

First class · 30 Oct 2010

If you hold a through ticket, (i.e. you don't split), and you allow the advertised minimum time for your connections, then they will usually help you.

However, splitting tickets can open up a different kettle of fish. I think it was agreed recently that if you do split tickets, you run the risk of being left stranded and this may be one of the downsides of splitting. You do run a risk here.

Preston may have a 10 minute minimum connection time though, if I'm right, you would need to leave more time at Preston or you again risk being stranded.
I will check the above connection time at Preston though...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Yeah, you need to allow 10 minutes at Preston.

If the Bamber Bridge - Preston train is delayed the railway is not responsible for getting you the rest of the way!

Chapeltom · 30 Oct 2010

Slightly puts me off then, minimum 10 minute connection time is to clearly protect the railway and not me. I wouldn't bother splitting tickets anyway, it would be more expensive.

tony_mac · 30 Oct 2010

However, national rail enquiries and ticket websites give that as a valid connection. Print out your itinerary, and get reservations if you can.

Although it may also be the case that if the delay isn't the fault of the railway then they may also leave you on your own.

First class · 30 Oct 2010

The get out clause is there!

NRES Disclaimer said:
You should note however that ATOC does not warrant that such information will be error free and the user acknowledges that the information, products, and services published or made available on this Web Site may include inaccuracies or typographical errors.

yorkie · 30 Oct 2010

First class said:
If you hold a through ticket, (i.e. you don't split), and you allow the advertised minimum time for your connections, then they will usually help you.

I will ignore the issue of what 'should' happen - this has been done to death many times. Needless to say I disagree with you. However, you suggest what "usually" happens is that they will help you "if you don't split", this suggests that if you have split they will usually not help you? is that what you are saying?

If so, I would like some more evidence on that, because the only occasion I ever recall any mention of someone being refused help to complete their journey was one incident reported by you. I have not experienced any problems myself and I no-one I know has reported any problems to me that I can recall that were due to 'split ticketing'.

First class said:
However, splitting tickets can open up a different kettle of fish. I think it was agreed recently that if you do split tickets, you run the risk of being left stranded and this may be one of the downsides of splitting. You do run a risk here.

Agreed by whom?

First class said:
Preston may have a 10 minute minimum connection time though, if I'm right, you would need to leave more time at Preston or you again risk being stranded.
I will check the above connection time at Preston though...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Yeah, you need to allow 10 minutes at Preston.

If the Bamber Bridge - Preston train is delayed the railway is not responsible for getting you the rest of the way!

Yes, I agree. The railway is not obliged to assist the OP regardless of the number of tickets the OP is travelling on.

If I was the OP, I'd risk it if, and only if, I had a contact at Preston who would let me stay the night there.

flymo · 31 Oct 2010

First class said:
Preston may have a 10 minute minimum connection time though, if I'm right, you would need to leave more time at Preston or you again risk being stranded.

<snip>

Yeah, you need to allow 10 minutes at Preston.

If the Bamber Bridge - Preston train is delayed the railway is not responsible for getting you the rest of the way!

According to the current (and several previous) National Rail Timetable there is a minimum 8 minute connection time at Preston but the National Rail website gives 10 minutes.

If there is a problem which connection time would be used?

A60K · 31 Oct 2010

If the online OJP is using 8 minutes consistently as a connection time - specifically in the itinerary given to the OP - then it's clear that should be taken as the agreed connection time. Take a print out of the journey, possibly also have it on your mobile ohone, and that is pretty conclusive. If the train from Bamber Bridge is late seek out the guard and tell him that you have a connection to make at Preston. There's no guarantee the connecting train will be held, but they won't leave you stranded.

yorkie · 31 Oct 2010

National Rail website gives connection time as 10 mins but the National Rail journey planner allows this journey with a connection time of only 8 mins. East Coast booking engine also allows it.

My advice is to book online, print out the itinerary, and bring the itinerary with you. Under these circumstances I very much doubt you will experience any problems.

If this is not possible, and you end up buying on the day, then print out the itinerary from the National Rail website and bring it with you. Again, this should stop you experiencing problems.

I'd definitely take some sort of proof of valid itinerary to avoid a potentially stressful late night debate with staff about what the connection time is!

Of course, you'll probably experience no problems, but it is always advisable to be prepared.

Chapeltom · 2 Nov 2010

Any advice on Penistone to Chinley then? 7 minute minimum connection time at Sheffield. The gap of 11 minutes for the last train to Chinley seems sufficient to me? Sorry about the questions, its rare i'm ever in a position where i have to use last trains.

yorkie · 3 Nov 2010

Chapeltom said:
Any advice on Penistone to Chinley then? 7 minute minimum connection time at Sheffield. The gap of 11 minutes for the last train to Chinley seems sufficient to me? Sorry about the questions, its rare i'm ever in a position where i have to use last trains.

Yes that's fine

ralphchadkirk · 3 Nov 2010

8 mins connection time was the time I was taught in SET Train Planning.

John @ home · 3 Nov 2010

ralphchadkirk said:
8 mins connection time was the time I was taught in SET Train Planning.

Minimum connection times for each station are now shown on the National Rail web site. For Sheffield, it's on this page: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/shf/details.html

For any other station, replace "shf" with the 3-letter code for the particular station.

route101 · 3 Nov 2010

I very nearly got stranded at Inverness on Sat . There was a 5 min Connection to the last Glasgow train . I heard Scotrail provides taxis.

Last trains query

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