Changing @ Milton Keynes Central

[Ostrich]

I'm looking at a day return trip Birmingham > Leighton Buzzard next Saturday. My Centro ENC travel Pass rail-addon gets me to Coventry for free, and with a Senior Railcard, Coventry > Leighton Buzzard is £15.50 for an Off Peak Day Return, which I'm fine with. My query is this:

On my return journey, National Rail Enquiries gives departures from Leighton Buzzard at 16:46 and 17:42 - but it doesn't show:

17:09 LM Leighton Buzzard - Milton Keynes Central terminator, arr 17:21
(3 minute connection, which should be feasible if all goes to plan)
17:24 LM Milton Keynes Central - (Northampton) - Coventry - New Street

Is the fact NRE is not showing this because of the 3 minute connection (I can't find a recommended connection time for Milton Keynes) or .... is it not a valid return journey on my Off Peak Day Return ticket?

I don't want to attempt it if it's not valid!

 

[swt_passenger]

Milton Keynes takes the default 5 minutes interchange time AFAICT from the online NRTT.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Worth noting that timings on LM slow services in the evening peak can often be a few minutes late because the south WCML is so congested at that time, so I wouldn't rely on that connection.

 

[86211]

1721 arrives at Platform 2 and 1724 departs from Platform 5 so connection very unlikely.

 

[Ostrich]

Thanks, folks - so it's the connection time that's the reason why it's not on NRE.

Well I can give it a try - if I make the connection that's fine, if I don't, it's no real hardship, just a 24 minute wait for the next north-bound LM service .... thanks again!

 

[IanD]

I'm looking at a day return trip Birmingham > Leighton Buzzard next Saturday. My Centro ENC travel Pass rail-addon gets me to Coventry for free, and with a Senior Railcard, Coventry > Leighton Buzzard is £15.50 for an Off Peak Day Return, which I'm fine with. My query is this:

On my return journey, National Rail Enquiries gives departures from Leighton Buzzard at 16:46 and 17:42 - but it doesn't show:

17:09 LM Leighton Buzzard - Milton Keynes Central terminator, arr 17:21
(3 minute connection, which should be feasible if all goes to plan)
17:24 LM Milton Keynes Central - (Northampton) - Coventry - New Street

Is the fact NRE is not showing this because of the 3 minute connection (I can't find a recommended connection time for Milton Keynes) or .... is it not a valid return journey on my Off Peak Day Return ticket?

I don't want to attempt it if it's not valid!

It's actually the 1725 from MK to Brum (it arrives at 1724) so you have an extra minute. If everything is on time, it's easily achievable especially if you're first up the stairs.

 

[gray1404]

Personally I'd attempt to make it and failing that, no hardship if you miss it as you can just wait no too long for the next one. I do agree that at that time of day the WCML is so packed the LM services can run a few down - even on a good day.

Given the £15.50 fare is valid on VT, you might want to have a look at faster options that involve the main leg of the journey on VT (rather then a LM stopper) to achieve a faster journey time. If your planning to take VT on your return leg at that time of day I suggest you consider making a seat reservation. I make this statement only if your free travel pass is also valid on VT in and out of New Street to COV.

This is the fare I can find which is an Off Peak Return for that price

http://www.brfares.com/#faredetail?orig=COV&dest=LBZ&rlc=DIS&expert=on&flow=0&multi=0&fare=5&tkt=SVR

 

[IanD]

I do agree that at that time of day the WCML is so packed the LM services can run a few down - even on a good day.

I think the 'evening peak' is more spread out on a Saturday.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I think the 'evening peak' is more spread out on a Saturday.

The WCML isn't quite as intensely worked either, though losses of 2-3 minutes here and there are not at all unknown. For any WCML service I wouldn't recommend planning for a connection of less than 10 minutes unless it's known to be same platform (e.g. the connections at LBZ to BLY off the 1816 from Euston are very reliable, because if the Southern train goes first it causes serious delay to the 1816, so the Southern train tends to be held at Ledburn unless the 1816 is very late).

 

[DarloRich]

Is the OP ticket not also valid by Virgin? Why not just change at MK and get the faster service

Worth noting that timings on LM slow services in the evening peak can often be a few minutes late because the south WCML is so congested at that time, so I wouldn't rely on that connection.

Agree! Even on a weekend a few minutes delay seems almost inevitable

1721 arrives at Platform 2 and 1724 departs from Platform 5 so connection very unlikely.

I have done a similar change before - a brisk trot up and over is required!

 

[IanD]

Is the OP ticket not also valid by Virgin? Why not just change at MK and get the faster service

The next fast Virgin service from MKC to Coventry is at 1813, arr Coventry 1842. Might as well leave Leighton Buzzard at 1746 if aiming for that one.

 

[Bletchleyite]

OT but...funny thing about the LBZ connection off the 1816 - it's no longer an official connection as it is now (I think) 4 minutes. However it is one of the most reliable connections on the WCML, and there's a backup (1806 off EUS) a few minutes behind.

At least 50 or so passengers change there daily to get to Bletchley a bit quicker.

 

[Ostrich]

Thanks again for all your comments, much appreciated. I'm going to try and emulate DarloRich's "brisk trot" .....

Of course, all this is assuming that Arriva the Shires' F70 bus service is running to timetable and gets me from Leighton Town's football ground to the station (16:57 arr 17:03) in time for that 17:09 ...... too much injury time at the end of the game and I'm sunk!

 

[DarloRich]

OT but...funny thing about the LBZ connection off the 1816 - it's no longer an official connection as it is now (I think) 4 minutes. However it is one of the most reliable connections on the WCML, and there's a backup (1806 off EUS) a few minutes behind.

At least 50 or so passengers change there daily to get to Bletchley a bit quicker.

Is that change at the Buzzard of the faster service? I do that often enough myself a sit gets me a better shot at making the Marston Vale service - the connection is usually rock solid
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Thanks again for all your comments, much appreciated. I'm going to try and emulate DarloRich's "brisk trot" .....

Of course, all this is assuming that Arriva the Shires' F70 bus service is running to timetable and gets me from Leighton Town's football ground to the station (16:57 arr 17:03) in time for that 17:09 ...... too much injury time at the end of the game and I'm sunk!

One doesn't run for public transport you understand

last door of the train (on a four car) should have you next to the steps at MKC on most platforms ( except 2A)

 

[Bletchleyite]

Is that change at the Buzzard of the faster service? I do that often enough myself a sit gets me a better shot at making the Marston Vale service - the connection is usually rock solid

Yep, that one.

 

[Ostrich]

Just a postscript .....

Despite the best efforts of a recalcitrant referee and a late running Arriva the Shires bus, I did manage to make it back to LBZ at 17:07.

Hared across to Platform 3 at slightly more than a brisk trot ....

.... and found the 17:09 cancelled due to lack of train crew!

The following 17:42 to Coventry / New Street was in itself delayed due to lack of toilets, necessitating a long "relief" stop at MKC, but eventual arrival in Coventry was 18:54 compared with 18:30 on my original itinerary - so not even a chance to have a go at claiming a delay repay!