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I used to travel regularly from Lancaster to Wemyss Bay on the 0830 from Lancaster changing at Glasgow Central. It's at a time that suits me and the Avanti service is invariably quiet with good availability of the lowest fares. The Scotrail service has recently been retimed to give an unrecognised 8 minute connection at Glasgow, which I'm fine to take the risk on, however every journey planner I can find wants to force me to buy a ticket leaving Lancaster either earlier or later, at more than double the cost. See the screenshot from traintimes.org.uk below. If I search Lancaster to Gourock, a similar journey but with more frequent connections from Glasgow, I can see that a £14.60 fare leaving at 08:30 exists. Anyone know how I can buy an advance from Lancaster to Wemyss Bay leaving at 08:30? Thanks
At present trains from Glasgow Central to Wemyss Bay are not reservable, so the easiest way to force a connection off the 0830 from Lancaster is to use the forum's booking engine and force a longer connection at Glasgow Central.
While this will nominally put you on the connection arriving at 1238, you can just take the earlier train from Glasgow Central if you make the connection. The absence of reservations on the Wemyss Bay leg means you aren't tied to the longer itinerary.
44 minutes change time at Glasgow Central on the 'More options' menu did it for me.
This is only the case if the train from Glasgow to Wemyss Bay isn't shown on the ticket. If it's an e-ticket or a paper ticket printed by certain TVMs/machines, the Wemyss Bay connecting train will be shown - notwithstanding the lack of a reservation.
Of course, whether or not the train is shown, there's nothing to be lost by asking the Ticket Examiner on an earlier Wemyss Bay service whether they'd be willing to allow you travel on their train. I imagine the likelihood of them refusing permission is fairly low.
Yes, I guess I am still thinking predominantly in the 'credit card sized ticket' world where non-reservable connections aren't printed.
With barcode tickets, does the ticket examiner scanning the barcode get to see the booked train on their device even if you don't show it to them? Do they get a rejection beep if the 'wrong' train is taken, even if not reservable?
Ah brilliant thank you, I didn't realise you could specify a long change time like that on the booking engine. Another question though - I also need a bike reservation, and I can't see that option booking here. Have I not find it, or do I need to book the bike on elsewhere?
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Yes, I guess I am still thinking predominantly in the 'credit card sized ticket' world where non-reservable connections aren't printed.
With barcode tickets, does the ticket examiner scanning the barcode get to see the booked train on their device even if you don't show it to them. Do they get a rejection beep if the 'wrong' train is taken, even if not reservable?
I've sometimes got an earlier train from Wemyss Bay to Glasgow with an advance ticket to reduce the chances of missing the last Avanti service of the day out of Glasgow, and no-one has ever queried that, so I assume it would work OK in the other direction...
Another question though - I also need a bike reservation, and I can't see that option booking here. Have I not find it, or do I need to book the bike on elsewhere?
It's possible to get standalone seat and/or bike reservations through the GWR website, regardless of where you bought your tickets or which TOC(s) you're travelling with.
Sign into My Account (you'll need to create an account if you don't already have one), and select My Bookings. There you'll see a button for "Make a seat/bike reservation" and you can then follow the prompts on the popup.
I've sometimes got an earlier train from Wemyss Bay to Glasgow with an advance ticket to reduce the chances of missing the last Avanti service of the day out of Glasgow, and no-one has ever queried that, so I assume it would work OK in the other direction...
Strictly speaking that isn't permitted. Pragmatism is generally shown by a majority of staff - particularly so for ScotRail, where Penalty Fares don't apply and prosecutions are basically impossible. Sadly the same can't be said for all TOCs, so I'd take care - ask the guard/TE before boarding, ideally - before applying the same approach in future.
