1st Class Advance to London

[TwinTurbostar]

Hi all, I have two 1st Class Advance singles for the 24th February, from Tipton to London Underground Zones 1-2, and back. Both tickets specify a reservation for a VTWC service, but don't mention anything else about what trains I should use for connections.

Is it possible to use earlier/later connecting trains at both ends, at all? The departure from Birmingham is at 9:10, so I would ideally get the train at just before 8AM from Tipton, so that I can grab some breakfast in New Street, and hopefully make use of the lounge there with my tickets, and likewise do the same in the evening, but at Euston, before catching the 18:03 departure from there. However, I'm not sure if this is allowed since I have advance tickets, would I be okay to travel earlier as long as I'm catching the actual train I have the reservation on at the right time, and would it be okay to use the Underground part of my ticket earlier than expected, so that I can arrive in Euston on the way back earlier?

 

[gazthomas]

Yes, in my experience that is fine

 

[TwinTurbostar]

Great, cheers. Hopefully there's some coffee or something waiting at the lounge in the morning then!

 

[robbeech]

There will be coffee a plenty there in the morning.
You can get any reasonable connecting train, you might raise a few eyebrows if your train to London was 1500 and you got on your connecting train at 0730 but generally anything reasonable is considered ok. Certainly an hour either side of the suggested one would be fine.

 

[gray1404]

Anything a couple of hours before a connecting long distance service is fine. If anyone said anything, which I highly doubt, you just explain that you need to be in London for a certain time and are worried sick about missing your connection. Using station facilities to get breakfast is totally fine. Might suggest you head to the first class lounge at New Street first as they might have enough for you to get a breakfast. I once had porrag oats, fruit, coffee, orange juice and some danishes at the VT lounge in the North in the morning. You will also be getting some food on board the 9.10.

Coming back I would personally take the view that the London Underground staff are not going to be concerned with what time or connecting train is. And you can certainly use the first class lounge at Euston before your journey when travelling on an advance ticket. Also, worth noting that you can use your ticket on arrival to on your outward journey so feet free to pop in.

 

[boxy321]

Is the OP aware there'll be some breakfast on the train between Coventry and Milton Keynes?

 

[TwinTurbostar]

Yep, I'm aware, that's why I went first class in the first place, 15 quid for something to eat on the way there and back seems alright to me.

 

[boxy321]

Ah, it read to me as though you we're going to go for breakfast at New St 1st class lounge (you won't). I tend not to use the lounges these days as they're pretty stark places and I time things to the minute. Returning homewards, I'll make use of the local hostelries rather than the lounges (as I will be doing in about 1 hour....).

 

[crosscity]

Ah, it read to me as though you we're going to go for breakfast at New St 1st class lounge (you won't). I tend not to use the lounges these days as they're pretty stark places and I time things to the minute. Returning homewards, I'll make use of the local hostelries rather than the lounges (as I will be doing in about 1 hour....).

I've used the New St lounge once in the morning. I found it comfortable for whiling away an hour. The coffee and snacks were good and the service excellent. Just watch out - the entrance is on the rail side of the barriers.