Missing a connection with an Advance - not due to delays

[waveyswirley]

Say you're changing trains at a station from one Advance Single journey to another, but because of temporary mobile ticket IT problems, needing the toilet or some other issue you miss your scheduled departure - is your only option buying a brand new ticket for the next departure?

I'm asking because my mother got in touch with me today after being in this situation at Birmingham New Street changing trains on a journey from Newton Abbott to Liverpool Lime St. The arriving service was not late - she was just delayed because she was having trouble finding the ticket for the second leg of her journey on her phone. I didn't see her message in time and in the end she simply bought an additional walk-up Birmingham - Liverpool fare. If I was in this situation, I might try waiting for the next train to arrive and politely ask a member of staff if they would allow me to board with an Advance for the previous service - but this can be a stressful approach, especially on those dark, noisy New Street platforms...

What would your approach be in this situation?

 

[Watershed]

If the reason for missing the connection isn't something that is the rail industry's fault, then unfortunately yes, the correct option would be to buy a new ticket for the remaining portion of the journey.

As you say, asking the guard nicely whether you can still travel on their later service may yield success. But you can never rely on this kind of goodwill being forthcoming.

 

[Dirty_Mac]

For clarification, was she delayed at the gateline or did she simply not want to board the train? I'd have just hopped on the train and dealt with finding the ticket afterwards.

Also I recommend this forum's website because you can get the tickets onto your mobile wallet, which is much easier to navigate.

 

[Hadders]

Also, on our site you can specify additional interchange time which is useful if you think you’re going to need more than the minimum time allowed when changing trains.

 

[waveyswirley]

Also, on our site you can specify additional interchange time which is useful if you think you’re going to need more than the minimum time allowed when changing trains.

This is useful thanks!

 

[styles]

No delay repay due.

In some circumstances where delay repay is not payable, travel insurance may pay out, e.g. if you're delayed getting to the railway station due to traffic etc; but it depends on policy.

In any case neither will pay out for a passenger not finding their ticket in time.

Very unfortunate though - agree with others about increasing the interchange time using the forum's ticketing website.

 

[Gloster]

A question based on this. What would be the situation if your first train had no working toilets (something of concern to us over-21s), and the time taken to find and use a toilet at the interchange station means you miss your connecting train? Presumably the best thing would be to get a member of staff one the first train to endorse the ticket, but what happens if you can’t find any staff or the connectiong train is another operator?

 

[styles]

A question based on this. What would be the situation if your first train had no working toilets (something of concern to us over-21s), and the time taken to find and use a toilet at the interchange station means you miss your connecting train? Presumably the best thing would be to get a member of staff one the first train to endorse the ticket, but what happens if you can’t find any staff or the connectiong train is another operator?

Delay Repay scheme wouldn't cover it if there's no delays to scheduled trains.

It would potentially be a consumer rights issue if the advertising of nearby toilets was overt; or discrimination perhaps if the need for the toilet was due to a disability.

Asking a member of staff politely is often the best course of action, and could well sort this one out.

In reality I'd expect no compensation for this, and frankly every train out of New Street has a toilet on board I believe so the better course of action when not disability-related would be to just get to the train on time and head to the toilet on board. If there's a disability element, I'd hope staff would take a sensible decision.

 

[Bletchleyite]

In reality I'd expect no compensation for this, and frankly every train out of New Street has a toilet on board

Not always functional. But to be fair New St has a long minimum connection time, and my experience is that if a delay reduces your connection below that it is assumed you will miss it.

 

[styles]

Not always functional. But to be fair New St has a long minimum connection time, and my experience is that if a delay reduces your connection below that it is assumed you will miss it.

True but even then how many short form services are rolling in/out New St with only one set of toilets?

 

[Bletchleyite]

True but even then how many short form services are rolling in/out New St with only one set of toilets?

In the evening single 350s with no working toilets are very common.