Advance Purchase Fare Variation

[SignalEngineer]

A question regarding the possibility to alter an advance purchase fare to allow for increased interchange time.

Example journey -
London Euston to Aberystwyth leaving after 1800.
On NRE website it's possible to specify a 30min interchange time (at Birmingham). That option gives 18:23 departure from Euston with Advance Purchase Fare pricing (in addition to Anytime/off-peak)

When you click on the 'view and buy' button it takes you to the Virgin Trains booking site which gives only the normal options (15 min change) hence the 18:43 departure from Euston. I have also checked on the Eastcoast website and it's the same. Is there anyway of doing this online (I susptect it would be possible to do at a ticket office).

The reason I would want to go on the earlier train is because it's the last train of the evening to Aberystywth and don't want to risk missing it because of train delay from London (in fact it could be a valid reason during the day too as it's a 2 hour frequency).

 

[button_boxer]

I know on WebTIS-powered booking engines (e.g. East Coast) you can ask for longer interchange times if you use the "text only" mode (not in the normal mode). Don't know about Trainline-powered sites like Virgin.

 

[Greenback]

I'd go for the later train. There's likely to be a lot of padding in the timetable, and if you do miss the connection, Birmingham will have to sort something out for you. And don't let them tell you to see someone at Shrewsbury, make them arrange it themselves, eiother through Shrewsbury or directly. If the former, at least a taxi might be waiting for you when you arrive, saving valuable time!

 

[tony_mac]

I tried it with eastcoast and extended interchange times - it still gives the same times and tells you to change at Birmingham International. (Which does give 10 minutes more than the minimum interchange time)

So, I guess you will have to speak to someone to do it.