Advance tickets with 'connections'

[Buttsy]

Am I right in thinking that as I hold an advance from King's Cross to Helensburgh, I can use any train from Edinburgh as it states EC & connections and so I'm not limited to the service that was flagged up on the Scot Rail website (through train from Edinburgh to Helensburgh)? No service is specified after King's Cross - Edinburgh.

I just want to check as I am thinking about jumping on a Edinburgh - Queen Street train and changing for Helensburgh there.

Thanks

 

[DaveNewcastle]

On the leg of the journey for which a reservation has been printed, then you must travel on that service. For the leg of the journey for which a reservation was NOT made, then you may take any reasonable and appropriate service.

Other threads on exactly the same question include :
Advance + connections - reasonable time limit?
Advance "& connections" question

 

[Buttsy]

On the leg of the journey for which a reservation has been printed, then you must travel on that service. For the leg of the journey for which a reservation was NOT made, then you may take any reasonable and appropriate service.

Other threads on exactly the same question include :
Advance + connections - reasonable time limit?
Advance "& connections" question

Thanks for that. I did try searching, but the search engine isn't always as helpful as it could be. Either that, or the operator isn't as good as he could be.

 

[yorkie]

I agree it can be difficult to search, but one good method is to use Google, specifying site:www.railforums.co.uk

The built-in search can be good if you use appropriate options/selections, e.g. searching for the word connections in the title of a thread in the Fares Advice & Policy forum area gives results including:

• Grantham to Poole 'EC & Connections' Advance ticket query
• "& Connections" Advance question
• EMT + Connections Internet Advance
• Definition of an acceptable delay on a +connections ticket
• East Coast & Connections

and here's what I posted about a year ago:

The rules state that you may take "appropriate" connecting trains, and The Advance FAQs in The Manual provides some additional information:

Q25. Can passengers on an advance ticket travel on earlier connecting trains?

A. Yes if it is non-reservable, no if it is reservable.

An exception that benefits customers: Where East Coast is a connecting TOC from Stevenage via London and vice versa e.g "AP London Reading" or "VWC & connections", East Coast waives the need for travel on the exact East Coast train booked on this relatively short journey Stevenage-Kings Cross, even though retail systems will force a reservation to be made.

Some recent topics include:

• Early connection on advance ticket?
• Advance ticket advice
• Newcastle - Kirkcaldy Advance ticket
• St Albans City to Bath Spa
• Valid travel itinerary
• VWC and connections' advance ticket
• Advance Tickets.unreserved seats
• Unreserved portion on an AP ticket...
• St Albans - Bridgend advanced ticket
• Breaking journey on unreserved last leg of AP ticket
• Advance fare train limitations
• "Advance ticket" question
• AP EMT + Connections: Do time restrictions apply to SWT portion too?
• EMT +cnnectns Leeds - Sheffield
• Tickets 'with Connections'
• Hayle to Paddington
• Advance Tickets: Question on Restrictions.

Another useful place is our RailUK Fares & Ticketing Guide, which has information on Advance tickets, and we also supply ATOC's 'Advance Fares FAQ' from The Manual as an attachment (with their permission). If there's anything that still isn't clear, let us know (but bear in mind terms such as reasonable and appropriate are open to interpretation!)