4 minute changeover at Manchester Picadilly

[CrazyTom]

I'm a bit of an idiot.
I just booked two TPE advance tickets with a 4-minute connection at Manchester Picadilly: the 1203 arrival from Sheffield and the 1207 departure to Liverpool Lime Street. Although I'm pretty confident in making in over to the through platform (#14) in that time, I've now realised that if the train is late I'm stuck, since I've not left the requisite 10 minute layover. What are the chances, in the case where I miss the connection, I can blag my way onto the train an hour later? Based on the train's punctuality record, I'd be better off buying a second advance on the next train than buying an off-peak single if necessary, but I just thought I'd check...

Thank You!

 

[185143]

I'm a bit of an idiot.
I just booked two TPE advance tickets with a 4-minute connection at Manchester Picadilly: the 1203 arrival from Sheffield and the 1207 departure to Liverpool Lime Street. Although I'm pretty confident in making in over to the through platform (#14) in that time, I've now realised that if the train is late I'm stuck, since I've not left the requisite 10 minute layover. What are the chances, in the case where I miss the connection, I can blag my way onto the train an hour later? Based on the train's punctuality record, I'd be better off buying a second advance on the next train than buying an off-peak single if necessary, but I just thought I'd check...

Thank You!

Depends who your guard is-speaking as a very regular passenger on that route you would get some guards that would let you off, however plenty wouldn't (rightly)which is why I'd advise you to buy another advance ticket. Don't forget of course that if you do make the 12:07, you can still board it. Beware that the next TPE service to Liverpool is at 12:35 from Victoria, so don't book on that.

To clarify, you do mean two seperate advance tickets SHF-MAN, MAN-LIV as opposed to one ticket with two reservations?

 

[robbeech]

Looking over the past 4 weeks (which you have likely done yourself) the average arrival time has been about 4L which is far less than ideal. It seems to be booked to arrive on Platform 10 (though that can go straight out the window with the slightest disruption) so on a good day platform 10 is a good starting point.

You will however be pleased to know that the Manchester to Liverpool train has also been consistently late by a couple of minutes most days over the last 4 weeks. 2 1/2 L on average.

I think it is worth keeping an eye on your progress as you get towards Manchester and keep an eye on the connecting train to see how that is running. You may be lucky and be able to position yourself by the closest doors and make a run for it, or you may find you've no chance quite early on. What date are you travelling? Is there still a significant cost saving to buy another advance for the one an hour later or is it worth taking a chance on catching it, if you miss is, ask the guard BEFORE boarding the next service, and if they say no asking if you can purchase another ticket from them (again BEFORE boarding).
I guess the last thing you want is for you to get to the 1307, be refused, be told you cannot buy a ticket to have to go and buy a walk up thus missing the 1307 and having to catch the 1407 making you considerably later.

 

[CrazyTom]

To clarify, you do mean two seperate advance tickets SHF-MAN, MAN-LIV as opposed to one ticket with two reservations?

Yes, I currently hold two advance tickets.

In the event that I missed the train, I'd ideally want to ascertain whether I can travel on the 1307 on the same ticket, because if not then I may as well travel on the 1237 East Midlands Trains service. I'm not sure how to go about this, because in my experience station staff are a lot less lenient than on-board ones...

The travel date is Wednesday the 15th February.

The cost differential is £3.50 for another advance or £12.50 for an off-peak single on the day. So I need to be able to travel on that ticket 7ish times out of 10 to break even without buying another ticket...

What's the worst-case scenario if I board the 1307 and the guard doesn't like my story?

 

[Ianno87]

Yes, I currently hold two advance tickets.

In the event that I missed the train, I'd ideally want to ascertain whether I can travel on the 1307 on the same ticket, because if not then I may as well travel on the 1237 East Midlands Trains service. I'm not sure how to go about this, because in my experience station staff are a lot less lenient than on-board ones...

The travel date is Wednesday the 15th February.

The cost differential is £3.50 for another advance or £12.50 for an off-peak single on the day. So I need to be able to travel on that ticket 7ish times out of 10 to break even without buying another ticket...

What's the worst-case scenario if I board the 1307 and the guard doesn't like my story?

For the sake of a mere £3.50, I'd just go for another advance on a later service to save the stress on the day (and risking running smack into somebody or falling on the stairs to 13/14)

Also check out Northern's advances too - some are equally ludicrously cheap.

 

[CrazyTom]

For the sake of a mere £3.50, I'd just go for another advance on a later service to save the stress on the day (and risking running smack into somebody or falling on the stairs to 13/14)

Yeah, after inspecting the train's punctuality record on Wednesdays in the past month I'm not optimistic about my chances... I've shot off an email to TPE support on the off-chance I get a response I can use to get onto the 1307 if necessary, but if not I shall pay the £3.50. This almost adds insult to injury (although I can blame no-one bar myself), since when I went back to the TPE homepage after booking I noticed a 25% off promotion for booking through the app which would have saved me the best part of a tenner...