Looking for more flexibility

[crucible72]

I am planning on making a one-way journey from Pinhoe to Didcot Parkway tomorrow (Monday).
I was going to buy an anytime single (£39.70 with my railcard) so that I can have maximum flexibility,
however I still don't seem to be getting offered the level of flexibility I had hoped for.

I am not being offered travel on any trains after 05:19 and before 12:34. Ideally I would catch the 10:35 from Pinhoe,
get into Westbury at 12:15 and either try to make the quick 2 minute connection to Swindon, or if I miss it, spend
some time exploring there before catching the next train, either to Swindon or Reading. Does anyone know why this isn't possible?

If anyone knows of an alternative permitted route to Didcot, that is also something I would be willing to consider.

 

[Sleepy]

Can't see why your not seeing anything between those times, what site are using & what type of railcard ?

 

[crucible72]

Ir's a 26-30 railcard, I have used the national rail website as well as West Midlands Railway.

 

[JonathanH]

I am not being offered travel on any trains after 05:19 and before 12:34.

GWR mixing deck website offers many options between those times, although the 1234 option is so much quicker than preceding ones that I can see why other booking engines may not give other options.

I think the problem is that Pinhoe- Westbury-Reading-Didcot isn't passing the routeing checks, and specifying a journey via Basingstoke puts a passenger on a bus between Yeovil and Salisbury.

 

[crucible72]

GWR mixing deck website offers many options between those times, although the 1234 option is so much quicker than preceding ones that I can see why other booking engines may not give other options.

I think the problem is that Pinhoe- Westbury-Reading-Didcot isn't passing the routeing checks.

Thanks, there are more options on GWR, although the 10:35 still isn't one of them.

 

[JonathanH]

Thanks, there are more options on GWR, although the 10:35 still isn't one of them.

Yes, but the only reason for that is that, as you point out, the connection at Westbury between the Pinhoe to Westbury and Westbury to Swindon service is too tight, and next Westbury to Swindon train two hours later is connected out of the 1234.

There are only trains from Westbury to Swindon every two hours. Clearly you can catch the 1035 from Pinhoe to Westbury, as the fare is anytime, but if you miss the train from Westbury to Swindon, you then have a two hour wait, for the connection you make out of the 1234.

It looks unlikely that the Pinhoe train will arrive early at Westbury before 1215 as there is a Portsmouth to Cardiff train immediately in front, which leaves at 1212.

 

[crucible72]

Yes, but the only reason for that is that, as you point out, the connection at Westbury between the Pinhoe to Westbury and Westbury to Swindon service is too tight, and next Westbury to Swindon train two hours later is connected out of the 1234.

There are only trains from Westbury to Swindon every two hours. Clearly you can catch the 1035 from Pinhoe to Westbury, as the fare is anytime, but if you miss the train from Westbury to Swindon, you then have a two hour wait, for the connection you make out of the 1234.

It looks unlikely that the Pinhoe train will arrive early at Westbury before 1215 as there is a Portsmouth to Cardiff train immediately in front, which leaves at 1212.

That's why I mentioned the possibility of changing at Reading instead of Swindon. If I miss the tight connection to
Swindon, I can catch the 12:50 to Reading instead and change there for Didcot.
How long does a wait between trains have to be to stop booking engines from offering you the journey?

 

[JonathanH]

That's why I mentioned the possibility of changing at Reading instead of Swindon. If I miss the tight connection to
Swindon, I can catch the 12:50 to Reading instead and change there for Didcot.
How long does a wait between trains have to be to stop booking engines from offering you the journey?

Unfortunately, going via Reading isn't allowed, unless you get there via Salisbury in the first instance. You can't go via Bath either, only via Melksham by virtue of this being the shortest route.

The forum's booking site would allow an itinerary on the 1034 if you specify a longer connection, but the journey from Westbury to Swindon will be on the 1419.

From a technical perspective, Pinhoe has routeing points Exeter Group and Salisbury. Exeter Group fails the fares check so can be disregarded. The shortest route from Pinhoe to Salisbury is via Templecombe. Salisbury to Didcot Parkway is valid only via Basingstoke and Reading on map BB.

 

[crucible72]

Unfortunately, going via Reading isn't allowed, unless you get there via Salisbury in the first instance. You can't go via Bath either, only via Melksham, by virtue of this being the shortest route.

The forum's booking site would allow an itinerary on the 1034 if you specify a longer connection.

So if I stay on the first train until Salisbury instead of getting off at Westbury, will I be allowed to change at
Reading then? I am not sure how to specify a longer connection.

 

[JonathanH]

So if I stay on the first train until Salisbury instead of getting off at Westbury, will I be allowed to change at
Reading then? I am not sure how to specify a longer connection.

In practice yes - you would stay on to Basingstoke, and arrive at Didcot Parkway at 1436, having also changed at Reading.

However, you won't get a journey planner to show it because the diversion of through services via Westbury isn't being recognised. Instead, booking engines are coming up with itineraries which involve getting a bus from Yeovil to Salisbury (and connecting into a later train), because that is the shortest route to the routeing point.

This compares to 1526, going via Swindon.

As you have an anytime ticket, you can catch the 1034 from Pinhoe without a formal itinerary and either change at Westbury for Swindon, or Basingstoke for Reading, then travel to Didcot, as works out.

 

[crucible72]

In practice yes - you would stay on to Basingstoke, and arrive at Didcot Parkway at 1436, having also changed at Reading.

However, you won't get a journey planner to show it because the diversion of through services via Westbury isn't being recognised. Instead, booking engines are coming up with itineraries which involve getting a bus from Yeovil to Salisbury (and connecting into a later train), because that is the shortest route to the routeing point.

When I tried searching using this forum's site, it suggested the possibility of changing at Exeter then Bristol, but
maybe it only allows that because it split the tickets for me.

 

[JonathanH]

When I tried searching using this forum's site, it suggested the possibility of changing at Exeter then Bristol, but
maybe it only allows that because it split the tickets for me.

Yes, that would be split tickets. You can deselect split tickets, and specify a 20 minute change in Westbury to get this. After 0900, an off-peak day single can be used.
[Screenshot shows 1035 - 1526 timed journey from Pinhoe to Didcot Parkway]


Specifying via Basingstoke gives this. As I note above, the journey planners don't allow the use of the through train via Westbury to get from Pinhoe to Basingstoke, but it is inconceivable that the train guard will stop people using the first itinerary shown.
[Screenshot shows 1035 - 1636 timed journey from Pinhoe to Didcot Parkway with the £38.50 fare, but 'not available' against the 1035-1436 itinerary]

 

[crucible72]

Yes, that would be split tickets. You can deselect split tickets, and specify a 20 minute change in Westbury to get this. After 0900, an off-peak day single can be used.
[Screenshot shows 1035 - 1526 timed journey from Pinhoe to Didcot Parkway]
View attachment 147758

Specifying via Basingstoke gives this. As I note above, the journey planners don't allow the use of the through train via Westbury to get from Pinhoe to Basingstoke, but it is inconceivable that the train guard will stop people using the first itinerary shown.
[Screenshot shows 1035 - 1636 timed journey from Pinhoe to Didcot Parkway with the £38.50 fare, but 'not available' against the 1035-1436 itinerary]
View attachment 147759

OK, so that's similar to my original option, just that I am going to Chippenham
instead of Swindon after the long wait at Westbury. I'll probably go with the
Basingstoke option, that looks the most sensible. Thanks for your help.

 

[JonathanH]

OK, so that's similar to my original option, just that I am going to Chippenham
instead of Swindon after the long wait at Westbury. I'll probably go with the
Basingstoke option, that looks the most sensible. Thanks for your help.

Yes, although if you do make the two minute connection at Westbury, you should change there, and then Swindon, as it will be the quickest way to make the journey and definitely permitted by virtue of being the shortest route.

Sit at the front of the train from Pinhoe, as it is usual practice to have trains at the eastern end of the platform at Westbury. In theory the Exeter to Waterloo and Westbury to Swindon trains should be on opposite sides of the island platform.

 

[crucible72]

Yes, although if you do make the two minute connection at Westbury, you should change there, and then Swindon, as it will be the quickest way to make the journey and definitely permitted by virtue of being the shortest route.

Should I explain this to the guard on the Pinhoe train if he asks me where I'm changing?

 

[JonathanH]

Should I explain this to the guard on the Pinhoe train if he asks me where I'm changing?

You can do, but only if they ask. Just say that you are aware that there may be an option of changing at Westbury if the train runs to time, but otherwise you intend to go on to Basingstoke.

It is an unusual circumstance because of the engineering work between Salisbury and Yeovil this week that this connection at Westbury is even possible.

 

[crucible72]

You can do, but only if they ask. Just say that you are aware that there may be an option of changing at Westbury if the train runs to time, but otherwise you intend to go on to Basingstoke.

It is an unusual circumstance because of the engineering work between Salisbury and Yeovil this week that this connection at Westbury is even possible.

My journey has now been further complicated by the fact that the train that I was going to catch, as well as several after it,
have been cancelled due to flooding. I'm trying to decide whether to travel on the 14:34 (the first one that's running) and claim delay
repay (which I presume would be 100% of my ticket cost since I would be setting off 4 hours late) or whether to try to claim
a refund and re-book the journey for another day, e.g. tomorrow.

If I were to take the delay repay option, would the person reviewing my claim believe that I had intended to travel
on the 10:35, given that journey planners don't offer this option? Also, can I still claim delay repay if
I decide not to travel at all?

EDIT: The 14:34 has now also been cancelled.

On this page:

Incident: Pinhoe | National Rail

Major disruption between Salisbury and Exeter St Davids. Find details of all current incidents on National Rail Enquiries.

www.nationalrail.co.uk

It says that "Customers with unused tickets between Salisbury and Exeter St Davids
dated today (04/12/23) will be able to use them tomorrow (05/12/23)".
Would a ticket from Pinhoe to Didcot Parkway qualify as one of these?