Timetable Changes and Advance Tickets

[elpasi]

We bought some tickets last month for use on 19 Apr for EXD - WAT. The tickets are for the 0722-1049 service, but reading the National Rail Enquiries, there is a 0726-1049 service instead. I know this is only a few minutes different, and I'm sure it's the same service and we'll have no problems using it, but it made me think...

I know that they shouldn't change the timetable that close to operation, and understand what happens for a cancelled train, but what are the rules about trains you can use advance tickets on, if the train the ticket has been issued for is no longer on the timetable?

 

[wintonian]

You would use it on the same but re-timed service.

However 07:26 is the time printed in the timetable and the time the train is due to leave tomorrow.

 

[elpasi]

You would use it on the same but re-timed service.

However 07:26 is the time printed in the timetable and the time the train is due to leave tomorrow.

I know that 0726 is the time it is due to depart. However, when I purchased them, 0722 was listed as the time of departure, as per emails from when I booked the tickets, and even the mandatory reservation coupons say 0722 on them. Hence, I was interested to see in other, more extreme situations (than 4 whole minutes!) what would and would not be possible.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

It is an unfortunate fact of life that after some advance tickets are sold, the timetable needs to be changed. You should be allowed on the re-timed train with no problems (the guard should know the times have changed), however, if you are not confident enough to travel on the re-timed train, you should contact the ticket issuer for clarification and/or a new reservation.

 

[wintonian]

If the train was retimed to leave at 08:00 you would use it then, however if the train was retimed to depart at 07:00 for example then I would hope they would let you travel on the next available service assuming you arrived at the station in time to get the 07:22.

 

[wibble]

We bought some tickets last month for use on 19 Apr for EXD - WAT. The tickets are for the 0722-1049 service, but reading the National Rail Enquiries, there is a 0726-1049 service instead. I know this is only a few minutes different, and I'm sure it's the same service and we'll have no problems using it, but it made me think...

I know that they shouldn't change the timetable that close to operation, and understand what happens for a cancelled train, but what are the rules about trains you can use advance tickets on, if the train the ticket has been issued for is no longer on the timetable?

A friend had the same issue as you - turns out SWT had the wrong times in their reservation system! You'll be fine on the 0726 train.

 

[ashworth]

I have an AP ticket booked from East Croydon to Mansfield at a very reasonable price of £14 for Monday 2nd May (May Day Bank Holiday).
I booked this ticket nearly 3 months ago and when I look at the printout of the journey booked it is as follows:
1217 dep East Croydon 1247 arr St Pancras International
1315 dep St Pancras International arr Nottingham 1459
1525 dep Nottingham for Mansfield

I understand that the only train I have a reservation for is the 1315 from St pancras to Nottingham, and the others are only my unreserved recommended connections. However, by accident today, whilst looking for another journey, I discovered that there are no through trains from East Croydon to St Pancras that day as they are all terminating at London Bridge and I will have to cross London by tube.

This causes me no problem, I will just have to leave East Croydon a bit earlier. However, what if I hadn't accidently discovered this? I know that EMT staff at St Pancras would probably be sympathetic and let me travel on the next available service, but this could cause a lot of stress for elderly or less experienced travellers.

 

[penaltyfines]

If the train departs earlier or arrives later I am sure you will be allowed to travel on a later/earlier train respectively - otherwise I expect the TOC is in breach of contract.