Gatwick Airport connection

[pdwright]

Hi
I have Advance tickets for Gatwick Airport to Crewe. I have a reservation coupon for a specific Virgin service from Euston to Crewe, but no coupon from Gatwick Airport to London (terminals).
My ticket says Route: + VWC & Connections and Validity: BookedTrainOnly.

I understand that the "+" means I can use my ticket on the tube, as required.

My question is, can I take any train from Gatwick Airport to any London Terminal, including Gatwick Express, or do I have to take the train specified on NR website when I booked?

i.e. if I arrive at Gatwick early, can I take an early train to London and wait in Euston station (where there are more facilities) for my booked Virgin service?

Hope this makes sense. Any help appreciated
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Can nobody help?

 

[cuccir]

They can, but they're probably a little nervous to jump in!

Wlecome to the forum, you have asked one of the two questions which tends to result in most disagreement here! This has been discussed many times on this forum, and there is no agreed interpretation as to whether you are tied to a 'booked' service if the service is unreserveable.

In practice, you won't have a problem if you use any train which is itself unreservable, ie, First Capital Connect trains to London Bridge. If you use another service which is reservable there is more potential for a guard to argue that the ticket is not valid. However, anecdotes on here suggest that most guards will allow travel; I don't know much about Gatwick Express services particularly, however.

In my own travel I'd follow this rule of thumb and use the first unreservable train that arrived. Some people will respond to this and say you can get any train, others that you can only get the train on your itinerary. I'll let you judge their arguments for yourself!

 

[bnm]

I'll echo cuccir and say that I am in the 'any train' camp on the unreserved part(s) of the journey for an "...& connections" Advance Purchase.

Any train that is that will allow you to comply with minimum connection and cross London transfer times.

 

[RJ]

PDWright, have a look at all coupons received. Those which say "Seat Reservation" along the orange strip at the bottom are merely reserved seats, you don't have to use the service shown. Those which say "Mandatory Reservation" mean that you're bound to the service which is referred to on the ticket.

No coupon means you take any appropriate connecting train, free of time restriction.

 

[island]

And yes, you can use the Gatwick Express.