Changes to Minimum Interchange Times?

[ainsworth74]

Is it possible to see if a minimum interchange time has changed and if so when that change was made? I've got a split ticketed journey coming up (booked separately so no through itinerary) and I'm 99% certain I allowed the minimum interchange but I've just looked and my planned journey now fouls the minimum interchange time.

The station in question if it helps is Darlington. I'm sure it was 5 minutes but now appears to be 8.

 

[Willie Bee]

Not an answer, but related to your comment

I like to use the RailUK ticket site to book, especially if there is a connection involved, as it gives the buyer the opportunity to add extra time between trains.

My wife and I are both 60+ so 5 minutes, or even 8 minutes, might not be enough time for a change, especially if platforms are not close.

I don't know of any other ticket site that lets this be done

 

[mmh]

Not an answer, but related to your comment

I like to use the RailUK ticket site to book, especially if there is a connection involved, as it gives the buyer the opportunity to add extra time between trains.

My wife and I are both 60+ so 5 minutes, or even 8 minutes, might not be enough time for a change, especially if platforms are not close.

I don't know of any other ticket site that lets this be done

I also use it, or "plain" Trainsplit, if I want to do that, but plenty of other sites will allow you to do the same.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

In CrossCountry's timetable booklet for May 2023 to December 2023, the minimum connection time at Darlington wasn't so specified, which meant it was 5 minutes. Back in Winter 2013-14, it was 7 minutes. Not sure when the relevant changes took place.

 

[greatkingrat]

https://sacuksprodnrdigital0001.blob.core.windows.net/electronic-national-rail-timetable/electronic%20National%20Rail%20Timetable/01.%20December%202025%20timetable%20documents/London%20North%20East%20Route/020%20London%20to%20Lincoln,%20Doncaster,%20Hull,%20Leeds,%20West%20Yorkshire,%20York,%20the%20North%20East,%20Newcastle,%20Edinburgh%20and%20Scotland.pdf

The Dec 2025 eNRT shows Darlington as 7 minutes not 8, so it looks like it has been changed since Dec.

 

[ainsworth74]

In CrossCountry's timetable booklet for May 2023 to December 2023, the minimum connection time at Darlington wasn't so specified, which meant it was 5 minutes. Back in Winter 2013-14, it was 7 minutes. Not sure when the relevant changes took place.

https://sacuksprodnrdigital0001.blob.core.windows.net/electronic-national-rail-timetable/electronic%20National%20Rail%20Timetable/01.%20December%202025%20timetable%20documents/London%20North%20East%20Route/020%20London%20to%20Lincoln,%20Doncaster,%20Hull,%20Leeds,%20West%20Yorkshire,%20York,%20the%20North%20East,%20Newcastle,%20Edinburgh%20and%20Scotland.pdf

The Dec 2025 eNRT shows Darlington as 7 minutes not 8, so it looks like it has been changed since Dec.

Yes looks like it changed in December, LNERs timetable booklet for the May to December 2025 timetable clearly shows 5 minutes:

Wayback Machine

(extract showing Darlington at 5 minutes)

I was booking the tickets before the timetable change (for travel after) so checking then I will have seen 5 minutes on sites like BR Times and checking it with something like FastJP. I would dearly love to know when electronic systems were changed though, I'm sure I checked subsequently to the December timetable change (in early January) and it was still showing 5 minutes.

 

[Haywain]

I would guess that it might be a recent change in preparation for the opening of the new platforms 5 and 6.

 

[ainsworth74]

I would guess that it might be a recent change in preparation for the opening of the new platforms 5 and 6.

Yes it's a logical change, I just hadn't anticipated it when I was booking this journey and so now I've been rather sunk as I have no proof what I was doing was permitted at the time I was booking it all! Hence the desire for a date I can point to. Lesson learned for future though, take a screen grab of an accredited journey planner that confirms what you're doing is valid at the point of booking (or book it as a through itinerary, that just wasn't practical on this occasion).

On this occasion I think I'll just have to Seatfrog my way onto an earlier train to Darlington and rearrange my plans for the morning slightly.

 

[Wallsendmag]

Is it possible to see if a minimum interchange time has changed and if so when that change was made? I've got a split ticketed journey coming up (booked separately so no through itinerary) and I'm 99% certain I allowed the minimum interchange but I've just looked and my planned journey now fouls the minimum interchange time.

The station in question if it helps is Darlington. I'm sure it was 5 minutes but now appears to be 8.

Have you seen the size of the new part of Darlington? I was there recenly to demonstrate bits and bobs for the certification.

 

[ainsworth74]

Have you seen the size of the new part of Darlington? I was there recenly to demonstrate bits and bobs for the certification.

Sadly only from the outside but it looks seriously impressive even from that vantage point. I'm sure actually in the new bits it's even more so. Looking forward to being to check it out once it opens.

Even if the new interchange time (which I agree is needed!) has stuffed me right up for this trip

 

[Wallsendmag]

Sadly only from the outside but it looks seriously impressive even from that vantage point. I'm sure actually in the new bits it's even more so. Looking forward to being to check it out once it opens.

Even if the new interchange time (which I agree is needed!) has stuffed me right up for this trip

It's a seriously impressive addition to the station and it has the new S&B PG50 gates installed.

 

[philjo]

4 minutes at Stevenage is very tight especially if platform 5 is involved. Also with the new timetable in the morning peak the southbound GN stopper arrives exactly 4 minutes before the northbound LNER departs so this is the default connection on most journey planners.

 

[yorkie]

This thread is a good example of why it's strongly advisable to book through itineraries. Other examples include where trains are retimed, etc.

Note: through itineraries; not through fares necessarily.

Anyone who books each ticket as if it was a separate journey may run into difficulty if any one of various potential changes that could occur, does occur, and over the years I've seen many examples of this. Admittedly a change of interchange time is rare, but re-timing of trains is not.

If it's literally impossible to obtain a through itinerary, then I would suggest adding each ticket to the basket and pay in one transaction (the forum's site has a basket, unlike the LNER site, which doesn't).

4 minutes at Stevenage is very tight especially if platform 5 is involved. Also with the new timetable in the morning peak the southbound GN stopper arrives exactly 4 minutes before the northbound LNER departs so this is the default connection on most journey planners.

We've already had a thread for that, but if anyone feels that there is insufficient connection time, the forum ticketing site allows you to specify additional interchange time of your choice.

 

[ainsworth74]

This thread is a good example of why it's strongly advisable to book through itineraries. Other examples include where trains are retimed, etc.

Indeed, I'll explain why I booked it this way when I see you tomorrow though you can probably guess anyway!

 

[Belperpete]

Even if you had booked it as a through itinerary, what would the Delay Repay system make of it? Would it apply the current MCT and say it wasn't a valid itinerary?

 

[yorkie]

Indeed, I'll explain why I booked it this way when I see you tomorrow though you can probably guess anyway!

I know the answer; one of the tickets is heavily discounted, and where the journey involves an operator where a Family & Friends discount is available, I'll be doing the same, but the message was more intended for the wider audience

Even if you had booked it as a through itinerary, what would the Delay Repay system make of it? Would it apply the current MCT and say it wasn't a valid itinerary?

The fact you have a through itinerary is excellent grounds for a successful appeal. While the system may initially deny it, the fact you have the through itinerary will make it much easier to plead your case!