Advance single Avanti west coast

[Ccross]

Hello!

Wonder if there’s any advice available from the good people of this forum.

I have an advanced single (purchased by employer) tomorrow on the 0910 from London Euston to Birmingham New Street.

This will be quite a challenging connection to make. I assume the trains later than this will be less busy (not sure if that’s relevant)

If the connection is missed how much discretion might gateline staff have to let me use a slightly later service? If I need to pay extra can I just board and pay on the train and if so how much extra is it likely to be

Thanks so much

 

[Merseysider]

Avanti staff at the Euston gateline are unlikely to show discretion.

Your Advance single can be moved to a later train by paying any difference in fare prior to departure, with the potential for an admin fee on top.

If you just put the ticket through the barrier & board, and are checked on the train... £££.

I would hope you wouldn't be charged the Anytime Single fare of £98.50... but it is a very real possibility.

 

[CEB24]

Hello

Usually the gateline staff, once they've checked/scanned your ticket and realised it's for a previously-departed train, will get the Train Manager's attention and it will be up to them to make a decision. At Euston the TM is typically next to the gateline team so it's easy to get their attention. There's usually some flexibility for advance tickets within an hour either side of the missed service in my experience, it's when people try skipping ahead hours that things are usually stricter. But, it's the TMs decision. I would call it out yourself and make them aware of it, always helps to show you're aware of it and not trying to 'chance' it and jump on the train. Good luck!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

If I need to pay extra can I just board and pay on the train and if so how much extra is it likely to be

Whilst noting what @CEB24 says, if you miss the 0910, strictly speaking your Advance single has no value, so you need to be prepared to have to pay again. You'll be looking at £50.50 to travel on the next Avanti service at or after 0926, which would be the 0936 to Glasgow Central (via Birmingham New Street). And, IMHO, the Euston gate line staff might well insist that you buy your new/replacement ticket before they let you past the gateline.

 

[IanD]

Hello!

Wonder if there’s any advice available from the good people of this forum.

I have an advanced single (purchased by employer) tomorrow on the 0910 from London Euston to Birmingham New Street.

This will be quite a challenging connection to make. I assume the trains later than this will be less busy (not sure if that’s relevant)

If the connection is missed how much discretion might gateline staff have to let me use a slightly later service? If I need to pay extra can I just board and pay on the train and if so how much extra is it likely to be

Thanks so much

Connection from where? Is the ticket an advance from Euston or are you connecting into the train from Euston with a ticket starting elsewhere?

 

[Ccross]

Connection from where? Is the ticket an advance from Euston or are you connecting into the train from Euston with a ticket starting elsewhere?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Sep 2025 ==

Ahh I just meant it’s going to be challenging to make the train with other morning commitments ,(travelling to Euston by tube )

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Sep 2025 ==

Connection from where? Is the ticket an advance from Euston or are you connecting into the train from Euston with a ticket starting elsewhere?

just an Advance from Euston . Getting there on the tube with a separate travel card

 

[Haywain]

Your Advance single can be moved to a later train by paying any difference in fare prior to departure,

It's important to emphasise that it is before the departure time of the first booked train, which appears to be the 09.10.

Ahh I just meant it’s going to be challenging to make the train with other morning commitments ,(travelling to Euston by tube )

As there is no connecting service it is entirely your responsibility to get to Euston in good time to catch the booked train. If you fail to do so you should expect to have to buy a new ticket.

 

[Merseysider]

It's important to emphasise that it is before the departure time of the first booked train, which appears to be the 09.10.

Agreed.

To the OP: If you have a credit card sized ticket, or orange/paper ticket then the amendment can in theory be done at any TOC's station with a ticket office, not just at Euston. Underground staff cannot do this for you.

For example, you could go and make the amendment to a later train tonight at Paddington station, if you so wished.

E-tickets can be amended too but this is most easily done by the account holder online.

 

[D1511]

There's little to no chance of gateline staff showing any leniency whatsoever if your excuse for being late is "I had other stuff to do this morning". After a short period of derisory laughter, you'd be directed to the website or travel centre to buy a new ticket.
Your only chance would be if there were major LUL delays somewhere that morning and you could try claiming your lateness was due to that, which may cut you some slack at the gateline, but citing poor diary management is unlikely to get you any sympathy......and rightly so.

 

[Ccross]

Agreed.

To the OP: If you have a credit card sized ticket, or orange/paper ticket then the amendment can in theory be done at any TOC's station with a ticket office, not just at Euston. Underground staff cannot do this for you.

For example, you could go and make the amendment to a later train tonight at Paddington station, if you so wished.

E-tickets can be amended too but this is most easily done by the account holder online.

Gosh . Will try this at a c2c station tonight ? So I just present the current advance single and pay a fee to change to a train 20 min later (0910 change to 0936) Thanks

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Sep 2025 ==

It’s an old school orange ticket

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Sep 2025 ==

This worked . 20 min breathing space. Surprised the 0936 cost £19 more than the 0910 but I assume this is because the original ticket was booked back in August

Thank you for the heads up!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

@Ccross. How did you get on? Looks like several Avanti trains from London Euston to/via Birmingham New Street were delayed arriving into New Street on Monday morning, including the 0936; reckon you may be eligible to 50% Delay Repay. That should recoup some of your additional outlay!