Advance Single- Restrictions

[Train Maniac]

Hi guys
So i was under the impression that Advance tickets are only valid on the train time selected.
Yet when ive missed one or two of the trains i originally intended on catching, no ine picked me up on it, and still managed to open the barriers at my destination. Is this correct?

 

[jfollows]

Hi guys
So i was under the impression that Advance tickets are only valid on the train time selected.
Yet when ive missed one or two of the trains i originally intended on catching, no ine picked me up on it, and still managed to open the barriers at my destination. Is this correct?

No, you just got lucky.
Your ticket would be valid on a later train if the booked train didn't run for some reason, and the interactions between barriers and tickets won't be precise enough to reject the ticket even if the booked train ran. If your ticket had been checked on the train you used then you got lucky, the person checking the ticket didn't notice or couldn't be bothered.

 

[Train Maniac]

Ah i see. Apologies. Thanks for letting me know.

 

[mangyiscute]

Hi guys
So i was under the impression that Advance tickets are only valid on the train time selected.
Yet when ive missed one or two of the trains i originally intended on catching, no ine picked me up on it, and still managed to open the barriers at my destination. Is this correct?

Just to check, did you miss it due to arriving too late at the initial departure station to catch the train (say you got a lift to the station and you got stuck in traffic, or like didn't wake up in time for the train etc), or did you miss the train due to a previous train on the journey being late.
Because if you miss a train due to a previous train being late, you are allowed to get the next train of the same operator to complete your journey. If you miss the train due to any other reason, whether it be a late bus, an emergency, or just being careless, you must buy a new ticket.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

@Train Maniac. Depending on the precise circumstances, you could easily have ended up with having to pay for a new undiscounted Anytime Single fare but with a three figure admin charge added on top.

 

[Train Maniac]

Hi all
So i dont think i explained myself very well. This took place back in May. I had an advance ticket for St Pancras to Derby. My train from Maidstone to Strood and onwards to HS1 was replaced by bus at the last minute (engineering works) and missed my connection at Strood. I asked at the ticket office what to do next. She said not to worry and get on the next train and explain to the guard when i saw them (with a written note) i didnt see anyone until St Pancras but was let through the barriers at both sides without question. I was fully expecting to pay for a new ticket. Similarly, just a few days later my CrossCountry service arrived literally as my advance ticket train left Sheffield for St Pancras. Again i found a gaurd at the firdt oppurtunity and he said not a problem. I must stress i havent had any more instances like this and always buy my tickets before getting on the train. I posted this thread so i could confirm what i already thought. Im really sorry if ive caused any trouble, is there something i should be doing about this?

 

[dvboy]

No you're fine, if you're delayed and it's the fault of the railway - even with separate tickets - you are allowed to complete your journey on the next available service.

 

[Segedunum]

If its the railway's fault (as you've described) then you're able to get on the next service operated by the same company.

Same applies if you have a combination of tickets, so long as you've left enough time between connections.

 

[mangyiscute]

Hi all
So i dont think i explained myself very well. This took place back in May. I had an advance ticket for St Pancras to Derby. My train from Maidstone to Strood and onwards to HS1 was replaced by bus at the last minute (engineering works) and missed my connection at Strood. I asked at the ticket office what to do next. She said not to worry and get on the next train and explain to the guard when i saw them (with a written note) i didnt see anyone until St Pancras but was let through the barriers at both sides without question. I was fully expecting to pay for a new ticket. Similarly, just a few days later my CrossCountry service arrived literally as my advance ticket train left Sheffield for St Pancras. Again i found a gaurd at the firdt oppurtunity and he said not a problem. I must stress i havent had any more instances like this and always buy my tickets before getting on the train. I posted this thread so i could confirm what i already thought. Im really sorry if ive caused any trouble, is there something i should be doing about this?

If you miss the train on your advance tickets due to a delay/cancellation to a previous train, you are allowed to get the next train on the same route without paying any extra. This is still applicable if you have split tickets, it does not have to be a through ticket.
The only caveat is that you must leave the minimum interchange time to change trains - for example you can't plan to get a train that leaves a station 2 minutes after the one you arrive on. For most stations the minimum connection time is 5 mins, although it can be up to 15 mins (at bigger stations such as london terminals)

 

[Train Maniac]

OK. Thanks for explaining

 

[yorkie]

Hi all
So i dont think i explained myself very well. This took place back in May. I had an advance ticket for St Pancras to Derby. My train from Maidstone to Strood and onwards to HS1 was replaced by bus at the last minute (engineering works) and missed my connection at Strood. I asked at the ticket office what to do next. She said not to worry and get on the next train and explain to the guard when i saw them (with a written note) i didnt see anyone until St Pancras but was let through the barriers at both sides without question. I was fully expecting to pay for a new ticket. Similarly, just a few days later my CrossCountry service arrived literally as my advance ticket train left Sheffield for St Pancras. Again i found a gaurd at the firdt oppurtunity and he said not a problem. I must stress i havent had any more instances like this and always buy my tickets before getting on the train. I posted this thread so i could confirm what i already thought. Im really sorry if ive caused any trouble, is there something i should be doing about this?

Providing it's a valid itinerary, you are covered.

It doesn't matter if this is on one through ticket, or a combination of two or more tickets which cover the through journey.

But, as others have mentioned, it does need to be a valid itinerary; I strongly recommend booking the journey as a through journey in one transaction. If you want to benefit from combinations of tickets, then use a website which will calculate this (for example the forum's site); this will give you a through itinerary which is evidence of the contract.

If trains are subsequently retimed, cancelled, replaced with a bus etc after booking, you are still covered. If in doubt, you can seek advice here, as well as asking the relevant train companies.

You can alternatively arrange your own itinerary and book tickets individually as if they were separate journeys, but you would need to take great care to ensure that the itinerary is a valid one, and document evidence at the time of booking, in case you need to evidence this later.