Reading - connection time?

[Leogilbert007]

hi, I’m looking for advice for a trip in early December

I’ll be getting off an SWR train from Waterloo, with a planned arrival time into Reading of 1916.

Next service with GWR from RDG-Totnes is at 1931, giving me 15 minutes to change trains.

I’m aware Reading station is humongous with a lot of platforms. Is 15min enough time to change trains - assuming the previous train is on time- or should I try exchanging my Advance Single?

 

[jfollows]

Per https://www.brtimes.com/!board?stn=RDG&show=info&date=20241117 it’s a minimum of 7 minutes.
Which means as long as your connection time is this or more - it is - you can use your advance single on a later train if you miss the booked train and you can claim Delay Repay based on your actual arrival time in Totnes.

Stick with your existing ticket, assuming it’s the Advance ticket you refer to from Reading to Totnes. It’s fine.

 

[D841 Roebuck]

Sh

hi, I’m looking for advice for a trip in early December

I’ll be getting off an SWR train from Waterloo, with a planned arrival time into Reading of 1916.

Next service with GWR from RDG-Totnes is at 1931, giving me 15 minutes to change trains.

I’m aware Reading station is humongous with a lot of platforms. Is 15min enough time to change trains - assuming the previous train is on time- or should I try exchanging my Advance Single?

Should be fine if your train from Waterloo is no more than 5-6 mins late.

You can minimise the transfer time by sitting in the front coach of the Waterloo to Reading train.

 

[Leogilbert007]

Sh

Should be fine if your train from Waterloo is no more than 5-6 mins late.

You can minimise the transfer time by sitting in the front coach of the Waterloo to Reading train.

Perfect thanks

 

[Leogilbert007]

Per https://www.brtimes.com/!board?stn=RDG&show=info&date=20241117 it’s a minimum of 7 minutes.
Which means as long as your connection time is this or more - it is - you can use your advance single on a later train if you miss the booked train and you can claim Delay Repay based on your actual arrival time in Totnes.

Stick with your existing ticket, assuming it’s the Advance ticket you refer to from Reading to Totnes. It’s fine.

Ok perfect, thank you for the detailed info. I’ll sit in the front coach of the first train, and I will be on my own with fast legs and no luggage - should be fine

 

[MarlowDonkey]

I’ll be getting off an SWR train from Waterloo, with a planned arrival time into Reading of 1916.

Next service with GWR from RDG-Totnes is at 1931, giving me 15 minutes to change trains.

The Waterloo trains come into bays (4,5,6) at the London end of the platform (7) used most frequently by westbound express services. Being at the front of the train minimises the distance to walk at Reading. If you need to use another platform, the escalators/lift and footbridge are about a train's length beyond the third rail platforms.

 

[W-on-Sea]

That would be absolutely fine. To speed things up, be at the front of the train as you arrive at Reading, but even in the unlikely event that your connection were leaving from the northernmost platform island furthest from you (which is extremely unlikely), 15 minutes would be much more than adequate for most people of average mobility or better.

 

[duffield]

15 minutes at Reading is about three times what you actually need to change comfortably if fit with no luggage. There's really no need to sit in the very front coach of the SWR train (if it's crowded, for example).

 

[Leogilbert007]

Thanks so much for all your answers, insanely helpful

 

[davews]

Last week on my trip Martins Heron to Winchester I found journey planner gave me an 8 minute connection at Reading for the Cross Country train. If the trains are on time (often not the case for early morning trains) this is adequate, but you still need to get to the far end of platform 7 (7B) for those trains. I decided to catch an earlier train from Martins Heron to be sure. While I was waiting the Totnes train arrived, I would have had oodles of time if I was catching that. 7 minutes minimum connection time though sounds quite short if you are heading right over to say the Elizabeth line platforms.

 

[Leogilbert007]

Ok thanks