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Suppose I have bought an advance single ticket for a UK rail journey that requires a change of trains at some intermediate point. By default, my ticket is valid only on a specific pair of trains. However, if the first train is delayed such that I miss the connection, I am entitled to take a later service for the second leg.

Am I then obliged to take the first available train that is travelling to the appropriate destination? Or can I choose to spend additional time at the intermediate station? (For example, it might now be more convenient to stop and get dinner at the intermediate station rather than waiting until I reach the final destination; or perhaps it's just rush-hour and I'd prefer to wait for a quieter train). How much flexibility do I have?

avid
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3 Answers3

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National Rail Conditions of Travel:

  1. What Happens When Things Go Wrong?

28.1 We want you to be satisfied with your journey. If you have any problem that cannot be resolved to your satisfaction at the time, every Train Company provides details of how to make a complaint or comment on its website and on notices at stations and on trains.

28.2 Where disruption prevents you from completing the journey for which your Ticket is valid and is being used, any Train Company will, where it reasonably can, provide you with alternative means of travel to your destination, or if necessary, provide overnight accommodation for you.

28.3 Where your train is likely to be delayed for more than 60 minutes, you may use your Ticket to make your journey at a later date subject to comparable restrictions on your Ticket. Please refer to your Train Company’s website or contact them directly for details on how to obtain a replacement Ticket.

28.4 In other circumstances disruption to train services may mean that you are entitled to compensation or a refund on your Ticket. Part F explains your rights to refunds and compensation.

28.5 If your train is delayed for more than 60 minutes, your Train Company may, in certain circumstances, provide you with meals and refreshments if they are available on the train or in the station, or can reasonably be supplied, and in reasonable relation to the waiting time.

In practice, when there is major disruption ticket restrictions may be lifted which allow you to travel on any train, or operators will announce they are accepting tickets from another operator. If they aren't explicitly lifted, you can ask staff if you are allowed to travel on another operator, especially if there are no suitable alternatives from the original operator.

user1908704
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, I am entitled to take a later service for the second leg.

Only if on the same operator. If there are no later trains from your operator, then your original operator has the obligation to reroute you and you be carried with another operator

? (For example, it might now be more convenient to stop and get dinner at the intermediate station

A Advance ticket has no break of journey allowed, meaning you won't be able to leave the platforms at barriered stations.

Nicolas Formichella
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It turns out LNER has a policy on this:

Use your original ticket to travel on another service

If your train is cancelled, you can use your existing ticket to travel on either of the two services before or after your cancelled service, along with any required connections at the start or end of your journey. These services must meet the route and operator conditions of your ticket.

You do not need to change your ticket or buy a new one to travel.

This is an industry-wide agreement, so includes non-LNER journeys and connections. If an alternative service is not available, please speak to a member of railway staff.

So it seems like +/- 2 trains applies to other companies. GWR, Thameslink, SWR say the same. I couldn't find any obvious mention on the help pages of Avanti, Scotrail, TPE or Chiltern, but I didn't look super hard.

user1908704
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