Manchester Picc - tight last connection, late at night.

[Chapeltom]

Tomorrow, I'm off to Ayr (Ayr Utd v Greenock Morton) and I am booked on advances between Chapel en le Frith & Glasgow Central. I know that, I should be covered if I experience delays between Ayr & Glasgow coming home (just buying a return from GLC to Ayr on the day), but will be arriving at 1810 from Ayr just to make sure.

I am booked on the 1840 south from Glasgow Central to Preston where it arrives at 2058. I then have a 1 hour 5 minute wait for the 2203 down to Manchester Picc in time for the 2310 home.

I have looked on Raildar and have got to say, the performance of the 2203 which arrives in at 2259 is worrying. 3 of the last 5 Saturdays it has arrived into Picc at 2307, which is absolutely undeniably close, the other 2 occasions has arrived in at 2304. There is obvious concern that I may well have a sprint on my hands. If the unspeakable happens and I miss that train home, I know I am covered but that's not the question.

Who exactly do I turn to (try and get home) at that time if I miss that 2310? I have been at Picc on many occasions late at night and wouldn't have a clue who to turn to, and I'm not exactly Joe Bloggs, occasional traveller! I used to regularly run from a :43 train arriving on P13 to P1 for a :45 service, so I know I should be ok running if needs be, but thought I'd stick my mind at ease.

Tom

 

[hairyhandedfool]

If you become aware that the train is running late and you are worried about missing the connection, try to talk to the guard on board as soon as reasonably possible. I'm not certain what facilities are available at Piccadilly at that time, but an information point would be a good start, failing that a member of staff should be able to point you in the right direction.

 

[Merseysider]

The ticket office will be closed after 2200 but you can usually find a stray member of the Virgin team hanging around somewhere. In the event the guard on your train is unable to assist you, try speaking to BTP at Picc as they must have dealt with this kind of thing many times and will know what to do.

 

[yorkie]

The connections are better at Wigan (North Western - Wallgate being a 2 minute walk) or even Warrington (no walk required for a train due in 5 minutes earlier, or walking across Warrington giving you a good connection at Manchester).

Preston seems to be the worst place to change at that time on a Saturday evening.

That said, if you're on time into Preston, there's a 2104 to Piccadilly.

 

[bb21]

Did you buy an Advance?

 

[Chapeltom]

Did you buy an Advance?

Yeah booked on the 1840 from Glasgow Central to Preston, and 2203 to Manchester Picc from there. I just went along with the journey planner, bargain at £8.60 each way. Only realised the 1hr 5 connection earlier this week, which isn't great but the waiting room at Preston isn't too bad.

Certainly a long day out, would have booked directly to Ayr but the Scottish football fixtures weren't out when I booked the tickets and in any case, there's Wetherspoons to be ticked off at Irvine and Prestwick on the way down but I'm digressing!

 

[bb21]

If I were you, I would ask the guard on the 2104 for permission to travel, citing your short connection. I have found most guards to be quite accommodating in such circumstances especially at the end of the day.

The worst he can say is "no".

 

[Chapeltom]

If I were you, I would ask the guard on the 2104 for permission to travel, citing your short connection. I have found most guards to be quite accommodating in such circumstances especially at the end of the day.

The worst he can say is "no".

Yeah, I think thats a good idea. Much better facilities at Picc, e.g. a shop so I can eat something. Be straight from ground back to Glasgow with little time for food/grab a few beers for the journey back down.

 

[Starmill]

It's something of a feat to find a member of staff at Manchester Piccadilly after around 2300. The only way I've ever been able to do it is to approach someone who is dispatching a train, who invariably wants to get on with doing that and not talking to you. The ticket office and help point will be closed, and other than that all you will see will be the contract cleaners.

Whereas for example, at Ormskirk, the ticket office is open until 0027, so it would be very easy for you to ask the staff there (I can't imagine there being a queue!) to book you a taxi should you miss a last connection due to late running.

 

[Solent&Wessex]

It's something of a feat to find a member of staff at Manchester Piccadilly after around 2300. The only way I've ever been able to do it is to approach someone who is dispatching a train, who invariably wants to get on with doing that and not talking to you. The ticket office and help point will be closed, and other than that all you will see will be the contract cleaners.

Whereas for example, at Ormskirk, the ticket office is open until 0027, so it would be very easy for you to ask the staff there (I can't imagine there being a queue!) to book you a taxi should you miss a last connection due to late running.

I have always thought the availability of staff at Piccadilly is very poor in a late evening. There are plenty of staff there, TPE, Northern and Network Rail have staff there 24hours, but none of the offices or help points are open, and you have to try and catch a stray member of staff whilst they walk around or suchlike. Why the information point in the centre of the concourse, or even better the large Northern one on platform 10 cannot be open 24hours I do jot know. There are public on the station all night and even one of the tea and coffee places is open all night now.

 

[Chapeltom]

I'm screwed ! We left Preston 14 down. I decided to ignore the advice to ask the guard on the 2104, as I thought I'd test the water. I'm currently deep in it! I hope the time can be made up! I'll ask BTP or whoever when I miss it :/

 

[Merseysider]

Would it be the Buxton train you were aiming for? If you've missed your connection due to delays on the railway you should be provided an alternative means of getting home. Whether it was Virgin or not, their Twitter is monitored 24/7 so may be able to point you in the right direction

 

[FQ]

I'm screwed ! We left Preston 14 down. I decided to ignore the advice to ask the guard on the 2104, as I thought I'd test the water. I'm currently deep in it! I hope the time can be made up! I'll ask BTP or whoever when I miss it :/

You are currently scheduled in as the 23:10 to Buxton leaves. You are due in on platform 13 and the Buxton is due to leave on platform 12.

Sorry to hear that it is late.

 

[Chapeltom]

My thanks to Northern's staff member at the bottom of the escalators for getting into touch with a member of TPE staff. A taxi is being arranged home. Thank you so much

 

[Starmill]

Piccadilly was crazy this evening, loads of staff, police ect about. Glad you got home! I would have been there at the same time as you!

 

[Chapeltom]

Crazy day. All that for a bit of football! Got home at 0040. I have hardly ever suffered a significant delay in 5 years of ground-hopping/with a lengthy commute and get two eventful trips home in 3 weeks. People on facebook couldn't believe that the TOCs have to get you home, and given the taxi was more or less to my door, I was only home half an hour later than planned.

 

[najaB]

People on facebook couldn't believe that the TOCs have to get you home, and given the taxi was more or less to my door, I was only home half an hour later than planned.

Great that they still see it as part of their duty to not leave you stranded. I wonder how soon it will be until they start saying that your ticket is only a contract to get you to the destination station, and it's up to you to get home by your own devices.

 

[Chapeltom]

Given how remote to the station is, and given how close I live to the A6, i.e. the main road back to the Manchester, it would have wasted 15 minute plus for both taxi driver and me! I did us both a favour. His sat-nav said M67 and A624 which is bonkers, just directed him down the A6. The taxi driver was amazed that train services in Britain worked like they did. I'd have rather spent 40 minutes on a 150 rather than an hour in a cab, but that's the way things work. First time it's ever happened to me, and hopefully the last.

 

[6Gman]

You are currently scheduled in as the 23:10 to Buxton leaves. You are due in on platform 13 and the Buxton is due to leave on platform 12.

Sorry to hear that it is late.

Wasn't there a time when the last train to Buxton would have been held for 5-10 minutes if the last connection from Preston was running late?

Or is that just my nostalgic rose-tinted eyewear?

 

[Chapeltom]

Wasn't there a time when the last train to Buxton would have been held for 5-10 minutes if the last connection from Preston was running late?

Or is that just my nostalgic rose-tinted eyewear?

My reserved seat was in Coach C so at the drivers end of the train, and with bodies/drunks/children all over the floor, it was a struggle to get to Coach A and decided against it for a while. By the time I decided to try and find the guard we were just before Bolton. An alarm got set off at Bolton and I didn't really stand a chance of getting the guard's attention. I probably should have tried harder.

 

[Solent&Wessex]

Great that they still see it as part of their duty to not leave you stranded. I wonder how soon it will be until they start saying that your ticket is only a contract to get you to the destination station, and it's up to you to get home by your own devices.

That is the official line now, occasionally and often subject to the taxi driver you may get dropped somewhere more convenient, but technically the TOC has to get you to the station on your ticket, not your home or anywhere else nearby. Once the TOC has got you to the station on the ticket, at whatever time, it is up to you to get home. Of course TOCs may be flexible in some cases of extreme disruption.

 

[yorkie]

I was only home half an hour later than planned.

No Delay Repay claim at least then I'd keep quiet about the details of the taxi dropping you off closer to home - a nice bonus but possibly not in line with policy.

Next time I would suggest taking the earliest available appropriate connecting train if possible though

 

[FenMan]

A long time ago, before the WCML upgrade, Virgin kindly provided me with a taxi from Euston to Camberley due to the service south becoming hopelessly late, so there was no chance of making it to Waterloo in time to catch the last train to Camberley.

The taxi organiser called out if any other passengers needed to go to Camberley (no) and did a taxi want to go that way (one driver volunteered). As we left Euston he confided that he lived in Camberley and was very pleased to get paid by Virgin for going home. Anyhow, I was delivered to my front door, arriving around 20 minutes earlier than if I'd caught the last train from Waterloo and walked home from Camberley station.

Not a bad result.

 

[Howardh]

In future, don't bother with Ayr (if that's your team).

Try The Mighty Empire (Queen Of The South), much nearer and better for connections

 

[Chapeltom]

No Delay Repay claim at least then I'd keep quiet about the details of the taxi dropping you off closer to home - a nice bonus but possibly not in line with policy.

Next time I would suggest taking the earliest available appropriate connecting train if possible though

But I was booked on the 2203 so I was under no obligation to ask the guard on the 2104 if I could catch that train.

Given that my house is a lot closer to the A6 back to Manchester than Chapel station, which up the top of a long winding road out of Chapel, I was saving TPE money even if it was only a £1 or so and the taxi driver time. I thought I was doing everyone a favour.

I got in 0040ish, had I walked back off the 2352 arrival into Chapel I'd have been home at 0010. I wouldn't have dreamt of claiming regardless of delay time anyway. I probably had a case when I got back from Belper over 2 hours late a few weeks ago due to lightning strikes but wouldn't claim for that even if I was eligible.

In future, don't bother with Ayr (if that's your team).

Try The Mighty Empire (Queen Of The South), much nearer and better for connections

I'm a ground-hopper, my team is Sheffield Wednesday though. Only my 5th ground in Scotland after Benburb & Camelon in the Juniors, Kilmarnock and Stranraer in the SFL. My next Scottish trip is a bit longer in mileage, Elgin City v Montrose on 20th September.

 

[yorkie]

Just a reminder we have a Football thread in 'General Discussion'.

I've moved the most recent post to that thread, so hopefully the discussion can continue there