Advance Connections

[Alex C.]

Hello,

Just curious - I know if I have an advance through ticket I can travel on later services, but this is the last service of the day.

I'm getting into Watford tonight at 22:20 and need to then be on the 22:27 to Clapham Junction.

My ultimate destination is Portsmouth so this is the last train I can get there. I can get a later train which gets to Havant at 1:21am (with the eventual destination of Portsmouth at 4:59am

That's a connection of over three hours.

Presumably if I miss the train at 22:20 because of the virgin train being delayed, I'll be entitled to travel on the later train to Havant - would I be expected to wait the three hours for the connection or would they pay for a taxi for me?

Thanks.

 

[bb21]

I would expect that Virgin will pay for a taxi for you.

 

[455driver]

No late night trains terminate at Havant unless there is engineering work preventing them from getting to their normal destination of Portsmouth and SS (if as I suspect it is the 2345 off Waterloo, 2352 off Claham jn that is the train in question), if that is the case then there will be replacement buses provided to Porsmouth & SS.

 

[Alex C.]

It's what the journey planner suggested as the last possible journey from WFJ to PMS (connecting via 3 hours at Havant). I suspect it goes on elsewhere.

We may soon see as my trains running 5 mins late due to flooding - and the section between MK (where we're just departed) and London is the bit meant to be affected due to a speed restriction.

I've not been to WFJ before so I've got around 90 seconds to make it across the platforms I reckon and find my way.

If it ends up being a taxi from Havant will I be able to get them to arrange it or would I be expected to organise and then reclaim cost?

Thanks for assistance so far.

edit: I have a tendency to get anxious about things like this and assume the worst - fingers crossed I'll make the connection fine

 

[bb21]

If you miss your train at Watford Junction, ask there. They should be able to sort out your onward arrangements if you explain that you have missed the last train.

 

[Alex C.]

Thanks for your help - connection made with about a minute to spare

 

[455driver]

If you get anxious why did you arrange the journey with such a tight connection into the last train bearing in mind the weather and other things that can cause delays at this time of the year?

I certainly wouldnt do it!

 

[Alex C.]

It was an advance ticket booked 6 days ago for £17.50 and unfortunately the only one at that price!

 

[455driver]

So 6 days ago you would have been aware of all the problems caused by the weather but still booked the last possible train and then got anxious about it!

I would have travelled earlier, paying a bit more if necessary and saved myself from all the stress, but thats probably just me.

 

[yorkie]

Certainly should be no need to pay more, but if any of the TOCs were warning about the weather, then if you could leave earlier, it would have been advisable to ask Virgin for their permission for you to take an earlier train.

If Virgin said "yes" they are reducing the risk of incurring any additional costs such as a taxi and/or delay repay, so it's in their interest to say "yes" though not guaranteed that they will.

 

[Searle]

So 6 days ago you would have been aware of all the problems caused by the weather but still booked the last possible train and then got anxious about it!

I would have travelled earlier, paying a bit more if necessary and saved myself from all the stress, but thats probably just me.

Just you, I don't think you need to berate passengers over their personal preferences!

 

[455driver]

Just you, I don't think you need to berate passengers over their personal preferences!

I wasnt berating him (but dont let that get in the way of a dig will you, yawn :roll but merely asking, as the OP gets anxious anyway why book such a tight connection?
You can allow yourself a longer connection on most booking sites which is what I would have done.

I wouldnt do a tight connection onto the last train at the best of times and certainly not when the weather is playing 'lets knock all the trees over'!
I would have given myself a much longer connection at both stations or at least aim to be on the second to last train from Watford (or where ever it was) to connect into the last Pompy train. That way even if it goes wrong I still have a fighting chance of making that last train.

That is my personal view on the matter and despite the TOC having a duty etc it saves all the stress when things do go wrong.

 

[robbob700]

Hello,

I can get a later train which gets to Havant at 1:21am (with the eventual destination of Portsmouth at 4:59am

That's a connection of over three hours.

Presumably if I miss the train at 22:20 because of the virgin train being delayed, I'll be entitled to travel on the later train to Havant - would I be expected to wait the three hours for the connection or would they pay for a taxi for me?

Thanks.

The train actually goes to Fratton with a connecting replacement bus to Portsmouth and Southsea arriving 1.44. It would then be quicker to walk to Portsmouth Harbour (if that was the OP's desired destination) rather than waiting until 4.59!

 

[Searle]

I wasnt berating him (but dont let that get in the way of a dig will you, yawn :roll but merely asking, as the OP gets anxious anyway why book such a tight connection?
You can allow yourself a longer connection on most booking sites which is what I would have done.

I wouldnt do a tight connection onto the last train at the best of times and certainly not when the weather is playing 'lets knock all the trees over'!
I would have given myself a much longer connection at both stations or at least aim to be on the second to last train from Watford (or where ever it was) to connect into the last Pompy train. That way even if it goes wrong I still have a fighting chance of making that last train.

That is my personal view on the matter and despite the TOC having a duty etc it saves all the stress when things do go wrong.

It certainly sounded like you were berating him, and I wasn't just trying to have a dig! :P