Returning from Colwyn Bay

I have just booked tickets for my rugby trip to North Wales on October 10th using the forum site.

For my return trip I am booked on an advance Single from Colwyn Bay to Cwmbran, departing at 1732; I am being told to change at Shrewsbury with a half hour wait), but it seems the 1732 is a direct service (having checked on the National Rail site).

As I don’t wish to end up in trouble, can I actually stay on this train all the way?

I was not offered this train as a direct service while booking.

No, you can't. You have an Advance ticket and therefore must travel only on the booked trains.

No, you will need to do what your Advance ticket states. It's quite possible that for quota reasons what you were sold was cheaper than the direct service.

Okay..thanks

Always worth asking the guard, they might be feeling generous that day.

I would also recommend asking the guard. Many, but not all will be of course, TFW guards are pragmatic rather than jobsworths in my experience.

trainophile said:

Always worth asking the guard, they might be feeling generous that day.

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Always worth asking, as the old adage goes 'If you dont ask, you dont get'

mmh said:

I would also recommend asking the guard. Many, but not all will be of course, TFW guards are pragmatic rather than jobsworths in my experience.

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Just be careful that the train doesn't change crew at Shrewsbury.

If you'd prefer not to rely on the leniency of staff, you may be able to exchange your ticket for one for the service you actually want. This will normally cost extra, and can be arranged at any time before the train is due to leave Holyhead.

There's some information about it on the Natonal Rail web site (link). If you have an e-ticket, it does say the retailer may impose additional condition on those, but that they should have been made clear when the ticket was bought.

kieron said:

If you'd prefer not to rely on the leniency of staff, you may be able to exchange your ticket for one for the service you actually want. This will normally cost extra, and can be arranged at any time before the train is due to leave Holyhead.

There's some information about it on the Natonal Rail web site (link). If you have an e-ticket, it does say the retailer may impose additional condition on those, but that they should have been made clear when the ticket was bought.

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Thanks

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Sep 2026 ==

This situation may be of my own making.
I just tried again and the forum site did offer me the 1732 as a through service.
I suspect I just didn’t notice when booking!

Furryanimal said:

Thanks

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Sep 2026 ==

This situation may be of my own making.
I just tried again and the forum site did offer me the 1732 as a through service.
I suspect I just didn’t notice when booking!

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I'm sure the forum site staff will help you change your ticket if that's what you want.

I see now only the direct train is offered; the change at Shrewsbury would have been offered because it was a cheaper fare, which is likely no longer available any more.

If you ever want to exclude slower options from a search, use the filter button:


Separately to the filters, there are also advanced options (e.g. don't change at station X, or change at station Y with extra time, avoid TOC X, or only travel on TOC Y & Z, that sort of thing), so it is very customisable.

If in any doubt, please ask here before booking.

The site will let you change it, subject to a £5 fee (plus any difference in fares), which is done by re-booking (origin/destination must match) and then submitting a refund request for the original ticket.

There are circumstances in which we could ask the retailer (Trainsplit/Raileasy) if they could waive the £5 fee, and if anyone ever thinks that should be considered in your case, you are welcome to contact me and I will put in a request, but it would be very much dependent on the circumstances (if there isn't an error/malfunction on the website/journey planner system, I wouldn't want to promise anything, but worth asking).