Connection time advice in Lancaster

[Iarnród]

Hi all. I am travelling from Birmingham to Edinburgh later in the month, and have found an excellent fare if I'm willing to change trains at Lancaster. The trains in question would be Virgin Trains arriving at 21:07 into Lancaster, and Transpennine Express leaving at 21:15. Am I playing with fire to even consider this type of connection? Essentially, my question revolves around two points: what are these two trains like in terms on punctuality, and is there any way of getting back to Edinburgh if I miss the latter? (my research suggests not)

Your input will be most welcome!

 

[Iskra]

If you search those services on real time trains for the last week you will get an understanding of their punctuality.

You will also probably find that they are due in on the same platform making a change easier, and that may also mean that if the VT is delayed slightly the TPE could be held at Preston so that they leave in the correct order (but not guaranteed).

Lancaster is a fairly easy station to change at due to being quite compact.

If it's shown on NRE, it is a valid itinery and that way if you miss your train due to the VT being late, the staff at Lancaster would be obliged to provide onward transport to your destination (split ticketing may adversely affect that obligation).

Alternatively, could you travel on the 18:30 XC to York and pick up the 20:53 from there- slightly better connection?

 

[Tim R-T-C]

Good news, the trains use the same platform, so you can hop off one and straight onto the other.
Bad news, tonight you would not have made it since the Virgin Train is running 30 minutes late.

Since it is a permitted transfer at Lancaster then should there be any problems, then the train companies will help you complete your journey.

In this case, I suspect they would get you to stay on until Carlisle or Glasgow and offer a taxi. If you found the train was running late, I would recommend contacting the guard straight away.

Once you get to Wigan you should be able to tell, as the Edinburgh train is running behind the Virgin and there are not really any passing points, aside from Preston station, through until Carlisle.

Interestingly you could also change at Wigan, Preston, Oxenholme or Carlisle as both trains stop at both of these.

 

[Hadders]

The official interchange time at Lancaster is 6 minutes so your proposed itinerary is compliant. If you miss the TPE train due to the late arrival of Virgin service then the rail industry is obliged to allow you to travel on the next available service. As this is the last train of the day then the rail industry would provide you with a taxi or overnight accommodation.

If you're making the journey on a Friday then in the event of a delay seek out the guard and stay on the Virgin train until Glasgow. The train is due into Glasgow Central at 2317, albeit if will be later than this if you are delayed. There's a train from Glasgow Central at 0005 that arrives Edinburgh at 0126. This service only appears to operate on Fridays though.

 

[Iarnród]

Really appreciate all your responses. I think I'll take an earlier service to avoid any potential issue, but it is intriguing to read that the industry would be obliged to get me to the destination by taxi or provide accommodation!

 

[roversfan2001]

(split ticketing may adversely affect that obligation).

It doesn't.

 

[Merseysider]

It doesn't.

Correct but I know that Virgin have, on numerous occasions, refused to honour split tickets after a delay/after the last train of the night has gone