Minimum connection time query

[IcedBonnets]

Hello,

I will be travelling via Birmingham New Street station on Friday, with a 16-minute connection time. I am concerned that my inbound train will be, say, 10 minutes delayed, meaning that although I would technically arrive before my connecting train, I may be unable to find my way to the platform in time.

I have read that the 'minimum connection time' at Birmingham New Street is 12 minutes. Does this mean that, should my train be delayed by 4 minutes or more, giving me under 12 minutes to make the connection, it would be considered the operator's fault if I missed my train and I would therefore be free to get a later train? Of course I would still hope to make my original train, but in the event I was unable to, am I covered?

Apologies if this has been asked and answered before as I suspect it has; I have struggled to find an answer to the 'later than minimum connection time but technically on time' question.

Thank you in advance for your help.

 

[yorkie]

You can take the next train by the same company (or any company if it's an "any permitted" or similar geographical routeing)

However, do you want more time? our website allows you to specify this!

In advanced options, type "BHM" in the "travel via" field, select "change at" and type your desired additional minutes in the box underneath.

The additional minutes will be added to the 12-minute minimum, so typing 10 will give you (at least) 22 minutes.

 

[IcedBonnets]

You can take the next train by the same company (or any company if it's an "any permitted" or similar geographical routeing)

However do you want more time? our website allows you to specify this!

Thank you. I have already purchased the tickets.

I have on many occasions taken the next train by the same company when I have missed my connection. My specific concern is if I am technically in time (rather than actually later than the connecting train's departure), but not able to make it to the platform in time.

 

[yorkie]

If your inbound is delayed, and you make all reasonable efforts to make the connection and miss it, you may take the next appropriate train.

If you can state the trains you are arriving/departing on, we may be able to give advice on where you may be best placed to alight from the train, and which set of stairs/escalators you may be best using. Do you have any mobility issues?

 

[IcedBonnets]

If your inbound is delayed, and you make all reasonable efforts to make the connection and miss it, you may take the next appropriate train.

If you can state the trains you are arriving/departing on, we may be able to give advice on where you may be best placed to alight from the train, and which set of stairs/escalators you may be best using. Do you have any mobility issues?

Thank you very much. May I ask how "all reasonable efforts" is defined? Clearly if I was 10 minutes late for a 50-minute connection there would be no excuse. I am just trying to work out precisely where the cut off is. Is it the 12 minutes minimum connection time meaning that if I had 13 minutes there is no acceptable excuse? Apologies for the repetition!

I don't have mobility issues but I am unfamiliar with the station at Birmingham. I am arriving on a CrossCountry at 13:18 and departing on the WMR/LNR to Liverpool Lime St at 13:34.

 

[yorkie]

Thank you very much. May I ask how "all reasonable efforts" is defined?

It isn't; it would be on a case by case basis

Clearly if I was 10 minutes late for a 50-minute connection there would be no excuse.

Indeed, unless the platform was changed at the last minute, but that's a different topic!

I am just trying to work out precisely where the cut off is. Is it the 12 minutes minimum connection time meaning that if I had 13 minutes there is no acceptable excuse?

12 minutes is plenty of time so you wouldn't miss the train if you had 13 minutes.

Apologies for the repetition!

I don't have mobility issues but I am unfamiliar with the station at Birmingham. I am arriving on a CrossCountry at 13:18 and departing on the WMR/LNR to Liverpool Lime St at 13:34.

This is all very cryptic.

Edit: the 1318 arrival is due on Platform 7B and the 1334 is usually 2B. I think you want to try to alight from the very back of the train, and platform 7 will be on your left hand side. Use the footbridge at the extreme western end (this does not have access to platform 1, but I am pretty sure it's fine for platforms 2/3; others can say for certain) and from there you can easily get to platform 2 (no need to pass though any barriers at that end).

If you do this, it will take maybe 3 minutes, not 13!

Note that platforms can be altered, particularly during disruption.

Others can provide more bespoke advice, as no doubt there will be people here who use BHM much more often than I do!

 

[IcedBonnets]

It isn't; it would be on a case by case basis

Indeed, unless the platform was changed at the last minute, but that's a different topic!

12 minutes is plenty of time so you wouldn't miss the train if you had 13 minutes.

This is all very cryptic.

Edit: the 1318 arrival is due on Platform 7B and the 1334 is usually 2B. I think you want to try to alight from the back of the train, and platform 7 will be on your left hand side. Use the footbridge at the extreme western end (this does not have access to platform 1, but I am pretty sure it's fine for platforms 2/3; others can say for certain) and from there you can easily get to platform 2 (no need to pass though any barriers at that end).

If you do this, it will take maybe 3 minutes, not 13!

Note that platforms can be altered, particularly during disruption.

Others can provide more bespoke advice, as no doubt there will be people here who use BHM much more often than I do!

Thank you for taking the time to help me, I appreciate it.

 

[yorkie]

You're welcome