Portsmouth to Bedford

[janecr]

Thetrainline show a route via Three Bridges, which involves just one change but the National Rail timetable doesn't show this route at all. There is definitely a train from Portsmouth and Southsea at 16.16 arriving at 17.34 and then a train to Bedford at 17.55 but is there any reason why this route doesn't come up on the National Rail timetable? There seems to be plenty of time for connection as Three Bridges is quite a small station, I think? How come thetrainline and National Rail show different things anyway - don't they use the same data?

 

[causton]

(never mind - I read the wrong stations and knew there was a 17:55 train from the other station - and wrote about that one!)

 

[sonic2009]

National Rail may be giving the shortest route which is :

Portsmouth - London Waterloo - Tube to London St Pancras - Bedford.

To force it to route it via three bridges. Add it as a via point.

 

[tony_mac]

National Rail does not show the 16:16 as you could take the 16:20 and arrive 20 minutes earlier.

I think that it only shows direct trains that are overtaken, and not any that require a change.

 

[globetrotter]

See attached comparison of trains with & without the "via Three Bridges" option.

National Rail should offer passengers the choice of trains, including those where journey times are slightly longer but less changes are required. This is particularly important for those with children or luggage, the handicapped or the elderly.

Passengers cannot be expected to know where they should change and enter it as a "via" option. That is the job of National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner, which clearly it fails to do.

 

[janecr]

Thanks all. Would be useful to have a fewest changes option (which I think Transport for London does) - as would prefer to to take the extra 20 mins than cross London at rush hour with luggage...

 

[John @ home]

I think you're better choosing to change at East Croydon instead of Three Bridges.

Taking the northbound leg as an example, at Three Bridges the train from Portsmouth typically arrives on platform 2, with the train to Bedford leaving from platform 4. This involves sets of stairs or using lifts. At East Croydon there is a simpler cross-platform change from platform 1 to platform 2.

Click on the links for station plans.

 

[dzug2]

It might be worth checking if split ticketing helps.

The reason I say this is there is a cheaper fare on Southern from Portsmouth to London terminals (and East Croydon) than the any permitted one into Waterloo. Whether that translates into a cheaper overall fare to Bedford I don't know and don't have time to check just now.

It's usually described as 'route Barnham'

 

[swt_passenger]

It might be worth checking if split ticketing helps.

The reason I say this is there is a cheaper fare on Southern from Portsmouth to London terminals (and East Croydon) than the any permitted one into Waterloo. Whether that translates into a cheaper overall fare to Bedford I don't know and don't have time to check just now.

It's usually described as 'route Barnham'

It's nowadays called 'route Southern', so you can't use it on FCC. It's OK on FCC if bought as a travelcard though, once you get to East Croydon...

 

[adtrainz]

Adding to this, I would not reccomend the 16:16 out of Portsmouth and Southsea- it is very busy throughout, and only has 4 coaches (It is the one I use!)

 

[philjo]

The trains the OP mention do come up on the East Coast site if you enter via Three Bridges (& the EC site tells you to change at Three Bridges).
I tend to enter via "City Thameslink" for journeys when I want to use Thaneslink route as otherwise some journey planners will tell you to use the Underground to Victoria or London Bridge.

 

[GarethW]

It's nowadays called 'route Southern', so you can't use it on FCC. It's OK on FCC if bought as a travelcard though, once you get to East Croydon...

Presumably because the Soton - Victoria trains now go up the Arundel line.

 

[bb21]

Presumably because the Soton - Victoria trains now go up the Arundel line.

How does that affect 'Route Barnham'? It still passes Barnham so it didn't have to be changed, apart from stripping FCC of their share of the ORCATS revenue.

The other implication of this change is that now it officially cannot be excessed to 'Route Any Permitted'.

 

[janecr]

If I buy a return ticket going via Three Bridges can I still come back via London? Bus replacement services on Three Bridges route on Sunday!

 

[yorkie]

I don't see how you could avoid London really? (perhaps via Kensington Olympia, Willesden Jn and West Hampstead!)

 

[philjo]

From Bedford I suppose you could go via Bletchley & use the southern service to Clapham Junction.

 

[janecr]

I meant crossing London by tube from St Pancras to Waterloo - wasn't sure if the Three Bridges route was a different ticket which wouldn't include it.

 

[dzug2]

If I buy a return ticket going via Three Bridges can I still come back via London? Bus replacement services on Three Bridges route on Sunday!

No - you'd need an any permitted for that. (Assuming you mean coming back via Waterloo)

 

[bb21]

No - you'd need an any permitted for that. (Assuming you mean coming back via Waterloo)

The only fare is "+Any Permitted" AFAIK, so he will be fine.

 

[dzug2]

The only fare is "+Any Permitted" AFAIK, so he will be fine.

Of course - I was still in split ticketing mode

 

[GarethW]

How does that affect 'Route Barnham'? It still passes Barnham so it didn't have to be changed, apart from stripping FCC of their share of the ORCATS revenue.

The other implication of this change is that now it officially cannot be excessed to 'Route Any Permitted'.

My bad - of course it does, shows how long its been since I went that way.

 

[bb21]

Actually I think I got two things muddled up.

Southampton - London Terminals has had routeing "Southern Only" for a few years now.

Southampton - Brighton is the one that still has "Route Barnham".