Tight Connections

[gcmozart]

I want to travel Inverness -> Kyle of Lochalsh -> Oban in a day (12th Dec)

National Rail/Scotrail journey planner both offer to sell ticket with two short connections

5 minutes at Inverness - 12:08 from Kyle arrives 14:42 (Pl 5) & Glasgow Q.S. depart @14:47 (Pl 3)

11 minutes at Glasgow QS - 14:47 from Inv arrives 18:10 (Pl D) & Oban depart 18:21 (Pl 4)

Does the fact that the website offers to sell ticket mean anything in terms of journey validity/acceptable connections?

18:21 is the last train to Oban so if there are any delays will Scotrail have any responsibility or ability to get me to Oban?

Platform 5 -> Platform 3 at Inverness looks pretty straightforward, but i have no idea about the layout of Glasgow QS so dont know if Platform D to Platform 4 will be problematic. The mix of alpha & numeric platform designations suggests different parts of the station

 

[northwichcat]

Standard minimum connection is 5 minutes, unless a different connection time is advertised 5 minutes is enough for an operator to have a legal responsibility to get you to your destination and enough for a Delay Repay claim if, for instance, you arrive an hour late due the first train being 15 minutes late.

 

[Bletchleyite]

You wouldn't be sold the itinerary as a through fare if it wasn't valid. And yes, if you get stuck the TOC has to assist "if they reasonably can", though it depends if you'd want to go all the way to Oban in a taxi!

I would personally not book that itinerary, though, as I would find it stressful and would not want to go to Oban in a taxi. At most stations 5 minutes is too tight for a connection in my book. It is only not stressful if it's a guaranteed same/cross platform connection that can't be otherwise because of the infrastructure.

 

[Failed Unit]

I want to travel Inverness -> Kyle of Lochalsh -> Oban in a day (12th Dec)

National Rail/Scotrail journey planner both offer to sell ticket with two short connections

5 minutes at Inverness - 12:08 from Kyle arrives 14:42 (Pl 5) & Glasgow Q.S. depart @14:47 (Pl 3)

11 minutes at Glasgow QS - 14:47 from Inv arrives 18:10 (Pl D) & Oban depart 18:21 (Pl 4)

Does the fact that the website offers to sell ticket mean anything in terms of journey validity/acceptable connections?

18:21 is the last train to Oban so if there are any delays will Scotrail have any responsibility or ability to get me to Oban?

Platform 5 -> Platform 3 at Inverness looks pretty straightforward, but i have no idea about the layout of Glasgow QS so dont know if Platform D to Platform 4 will be problematic. The mix of alpha & numeric platform designations suggests different parts of the station

Glasgow Queen Street has 7 platforms in the high level. 1 is a reasonable walk from the barrier. 2-7 then are the rest of the high level.

8 & 9 are low level.

I don’t think 5 mins is enough to get from high level - low level (but it is possible).

Never heard of a platform D at QS Unless renumbering has taken place.

 

[DanNCL]

I'd be very surprised if either an Inverness or Oban service were to use the low level platforms, so I'd have thought 5 minutes is enough time to make the connection

 

[gcmozart]

Glasgow Queen Street has 7 platforms in the high level. 1 is a reasonable walk from the barrier. 2-7 then are the rest of the high level.

8 & 9 are low level.

I don’t think 5 mins is enough to get from high level - low level (but it is possible).

Never heard of a platform D at QS Unless renumbering has taken place.

I got platform D from Real time Trains looking at the last few days of the service running

 

[DanNCL]

I got platform D from Real time Trains looking at the last few days of the service running

Realtime trains is currently saying platform 7 for the train from Inverness http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G10946/2017/12/12/advanced and platform 4 for the train to Oban http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/G17064/2017/12/12/advanced. Both platforms are in the high level station

 

[Failed Unit]

Now usual for either to be on the low level thinking about it. make sure you are at the front of the train upon arrival and you will do it in 5 mins. No need to pass the barriers. (Agreeing with previous post)

 

[30907]

Not usual for either to be on the low level thinking about it. make sure you are at the front of the train upon arrival and you will do it in 5 mins. No need to pass the barriers. (Agreeing with previous post)

And if either of your trains is delayed, make sure on board staff are aware of your itinerary just in case connections can be held.