Inverness to Haywards Heath - advice needed

[Saperstein]

Hi,

Im travelling from Inverness to Haywards Heath on Monday 23rd and would like to arrive at a reasonable hour, say by 2100 so will probably have to leave Inverness quite early.

I would like step-free changes if possible! I can manage escalators but struggle up and down normal stairs.

I hold a Disabled rail card. Is splitting best and is it generally quicker on ECML or WCML?

Would like to avoid the tube if at all possible, last time I came out of the wrong exit at Victoria tube and missed it advance Southern service. Fortunately for me, the train has been cancelled anyway.

The best fare I have come up with so far is £118.59 INV-GLQ GLC-EUS VIC-HHE. (splitting at Glen eagles, Glasgow, Oxonholme Lake District, East or West Croydon and Gatwick Airport.)

Thanks for any advice.

Saperstein.

 

[Shotton]

A cursory look at trainsplit gives an advance on the Highland Chieftain @ £62.70 with a disabled railcard, with a single change at King's Cross.

07:55 Inverness - 15:49 Kings Cross

walk to St Pancras,

16:20 St Pancras - 17:22 Haywards Heath.


I think this would probably be the best option; I doubt a slower itinerary would save much, if any.


(note, I can also get the same price leaving 07:55 Inverness and changing at York and Stevenage, to arrive in Haywards Heath for 17:29 if you wished to avoid London. However, this requires two fairly quick connections)

 

[Wallsendmag]

Both of the connection would be cross platform and very easy though.

 

[30907]

The advantage of going through to KGX is that you have a better choice of train at STP going towwrds HHE in case of delays/cancellations.

 

[yorkie]

How crucial is it that you arrive on time?

If potentially being delayed is no issue, but keeping to cross-platform interchanges is important, then go for the option to change at York & Stevenage.

If you want to minimise the chance of a delay and have an overall quicker journey, then change at King's Cross/St Pancras. No steps at KGX, and there are lifts available (or escalators) at STP.

 

[Saperstein]

Thanks for all the advice.

I need to be at HHE by 21:00 at the latest really, looking at the advance changing at KGX and STP it looks like the advance part of the ticket only applies to the Highland Cheiftain?

It says:

“Specified train only. No refunds.

Only valid on booked London North Eastern Railway services and required connecting services.”

Does that mean I don’t have to rush between KGX and STP? If so that’s ideal.

Saperstein.

 

[AlexNL]

Kings Cross and St. Pancras International are right next to each other, they even share a tube station. 30 minutes should be ample time to get off an LNER service at KGX and change for a Thameslink train at STP.

Thameslink don't have Advance tickets, nor seat reservations, so if you'd miss the 1620 from STP you could get a later train. During peak times, there are 5 trains an hour from STP to Haywards Heath so the wait won't be long.

 

[Saperstein]

Thanks all I have booked on the Highland Chieftain and will change at KGX/STP.

Saperstein.

 

[30907]

Does that mean I don’t have to rush between KGX and STP? If so that’s ideal.

Saperstein.

Yes. Though as you are not allowed to break your journey, don't dawdle for hours!

 

[Saperstein]

Yes. Though as you are not allowed to break your journey, don't dawdle for hours!

Indeed but sure I’ll be aloud outside for a smoke


Saperstein.

 

[Saperstein]

Well we arrived over an hour late into KGX so I guess that’s 50% or the single or is it 100%?

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y75715/2019/09/23/advanced

Still got to HHE in good time (for me - not in the itinerary! ).

But does that matter? as the VTEC train was delayed.

Saperstein.

 

[mmh]

Well we arrived over an hour late into KGX so I guess that’s 50% or the single or is it 100%?

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y75715/2019/09/23/advanced

Still got to HHE in good time (for me - not in the itinerary! ).

But does that matter? as the VTEC train was delayed.

Saperstein.

I'd have thought it would depend on the delay for the whole journey to Haywards Heath, comparing the scheduled time had you been on time at King's Cross and took the next train from St Pancras to Haywards Heath respecting the minimum connection time, to the actual arrival time had you taken the next train you could following the delayed train.

That is, the delay is calculated on the end to end journey, not constituent parts of it. I am very open to correction on this, however!

 

[yorkie]

Well we arrived over an hour late into KGX so I guess that’s 50% or the single or is it 100%?

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y75715/2019/09/23/advanced

Still got to HHE in good time (for me - not in the itinerary! ).

But does that matter? as the VTEC train was delayed.

Saperstein.

As your journey was to Haywards Heath, it is the arrival time into HHE that matters.

As you've not (yet) divulged your original contracted arrival time or the actual arrival time, we are not currently able to say what compensation you are due.

 

[hkstudent]

For journey delayed 30-59 minutes: 50% of single fare
For journey delayed 60-119 minutes: 100% of single fare
For journey delayed 120+ minutes: 100% of return fare

As said, we need your actual and contracted arrival time of each leg of the journey (Inverness - KGX ; STP - Haywards Heath) to provide you with the tailored advice.

I guess the OP has taken this journey:
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/W76487/2019/09/23/advanced
Which is 60 minutes later than the NR Journey Planner suggested journey

I'd have thought it would depend on the delay for the whole journey to Haywards Heath, comparing the scheduled time had you been on time at King's Cross and took the next train from St Pancras to Haywards Heath respecting the minimum connection time, to the actual arrival time had you taken the next train you could following the delayed train.

That is, the delay is calculated on the end to end journey, not constituent parts of it. I am very open to correction on this, however!

I think if holding more than one tickets, it is possible to claim constituent parts of it if the payout value is higher (e.g. getting to the destination on time as you run to catch the connection)

 

[Saperstein]

Thanks was due into KGX 1547 But arrived 1652.

Was due into HHE at 1722 but arrived 1824.

One single through ticket.

Saperstein.

 

[hkstudent]

Thanks was due into KGX 1547 But arrived 1652.

Was due into HHE at 1722 but arrived 1824.

One single through ticket.

Saperstein.

That's easy, claim the whole journey for 62 minutes delay, which would give you 100% of the single fare from Inverness to Haywards Heath.

 

[Wallsendmag]

Well we arrived over an hour late into KGX so I guess that’s 50% or the single or is it 100%?

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y75715/2019/09/23/advanced

Still got to HHE in good time (for me - not in the itinerary! ).

But does that matter? as the VTEC train was delayed.

Saperstein.

The VTEC train must have been over 13 months late you deserve more than your money back for that

 

[Hadders]

To be fair @Saperstein may well have had a seat reservation for a VTEC train

 

[AlexNL]

That's easy, claim the whole journey for 62 minutes delay, which would give you 100% of the single fare from Inverness to Haywards Heath.

Not bad really, if you weren't in a rush in the first place

I do wonder what caused the late running. The train gradually seemed to lose time as the journey progressed.

 

[paul1609]

Not bad really, if you weren't in a rush in the first place

I do wonder what caused the late running. The train gradually seemed to lose time as the journey progressed.

In my experience that's very common for ECML trains from Scotland to London especially the north of Edinburgh ones. Edinburgh to london will very often be 5 hours plus rather than the headline times.