"Booked train and required connecting services"

[trainophile]

I've only just noticed the above wording while booking an Advance ticket for June involving Northern and ATW.

Thing is, the NT train timetabled for the start of my journey only gives me 12 minutes at Manchester Piccadilly, which is barely enough to get from P13 to the main terminal platforms using the lift and the moving walkways, even if the inbound train is on time, which it often isn't. Also it involves a change onto another NT train at Salford Crescent, heaving luggage off and onto a by then usually packed train.

Therefore I've always taken the direct (MIA) train half an hour earlier, both to avoid the change and to give me extra time at MAN. Is this wording new, and does it now mean I have to take the specified train and not an earlier one, despite it being non-reservable? I guess I won't know until I collect the tickets and see whether there's a coupon for the NT leg.

 

[34D]

It all depends how you define the word "required".

A quick chat with the guard of the airport service, and I'd hope you'd be fine.

 

[yorkie]

Can you produce a screenshot?

http://www.brfares.com/#faredetail?orig=SOP&dest=HFD&rte=455&tkt=NCA this still refers to "appropriate" connecting services.

I don't think there is a material difference between these different wordings.

 

[trainophile]

One of these days I'll work out how to do screenshots

I've collected my tickets and there isn't a reservation for the NT leg, so hopefully there hasn't been a change in the rules.

 

[gray1404]

You'll be fine. I highly doubt anyone on the Southport to Manchester leg is going to challenge you. Besides, its not like your arriving in Piccadilly excessively for the ATW leg. Whoever checks your ticket will most likely assume you on the next connecting service (it won't cross their mind any idea about a later journey possible with a change at Salford)

 

[dgl]

One of these days I'll work out how to do screenshots

If you really do need to know follow these instructions.

If you are on windows press the [Print Screen] (abbreviated usually to [PrtScn]) button and it will copy it to the clipboard and can be pasted into paint/word etc.
and on Windows Phone press power and volume up at the same time and it will save it to photos.

 

[trainophile]

If you really do need to know follow these instructions.

If you are on windows press the [Print Screen] (abbreviated usually to [PrtScn]) button and it will copy it to the clipboard and can be pasted into paint/word etc.
and on Windows Phone press power and volume up at the same time and it will save it to photos.

Thanks but all my gadgets are currently Apple ones . Two Macs (one Pro, one Air), an iPad Mini and an iPhone 5. I also have an Android phone so could fiddle around with that when I'm in the right frame of mind!

Thanks for the reassurance everyone. I'd have been surprised to be challenged on the NT train, given that more often than not the guard breezes through asking "does anyone need a ticket?" and ignoring everyone who doesn't stop him!

 

[SamS]

CMD+SHIFT+3 to take a full screen screenshot on a Mac (OS X), or CMD+SHIFT+4 will give you a cross hair to click and drag over what you want a screen shot of.
This should save a PNG file to your desktop.