Getting to Derby sooner via WCML

[emorris]

Hi all. There's 3 of us travelling together, and we were planning to get the 1855 from St Pancras, getting off at Derby. This was cancelled and an EMT person recommended using the WCML and changing at Birmingham New Street, so we got the 1943 to Wolverhampton from Euston. (as the problem still existed on the MM) However, I've just noticed that this will cause a wait of just under an hour at Birmingham, which will mean we miss a bus. Can anyone think of a way we can get into Derby by 2230 at the very latest? Thanks in advance!

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Hi all. There's 3 of us travelling together, and we were planning to get the 1855 from St Pancras, getting off at Derby. This was cancelled and an EMT person recommended using the WCML and changing at Birmingham New Street, so we got the 1943 to Wolverhampton from Euston. (as the problem still existed on the MM) However, I've just noticed that this will cause a wait of just under an hour at Birmingham, which will mean we miss a bus. Can anyone think of a way we can get into Derby by 2230 at the very latest? Thanks in advance!

Try the 1940 VT Euston-Manchester, first stop Tamworth at 2043.
Then the 2109 XC Tamworth to Derby arr 2134.

 

[Deerfold]

Try the 1940 VT Euston-Manchester, first stop Tamworth at 2043.
Then the 2109 XC Tamworth to Derby arr 2134.

If the OP's got the 1943 already it's a bit late for that - in fact at 2031 it was a bit late for that anyway!

The only option I can see if the OP is quick and lucky is to get off at Coventry with a +0 connection to the 2042 to Nuneaton then the 2122 to Leicester then the 2204 , arriving Derby at 2226.

If they miss that at Coventry they can get the next train to New Street and be no later than they are now.

 

[MCR247]

Tbh it wasa ridiculous idea. Would have just been easier to get the 1925 Derby direct or at least go via Tamworth. But yeah tbh I wouldn't say your chances are very high

 

[Deerfold]

Tbh it wasa ridiculous idea. Would have just been easier to get the 1925 Derby direct

Except that there were problems on the MML...

(though of course my "plan" relies on an MML service too...)

 

[sheff1]

Except that there were problems on the MML...

(though of course my "plan" relies on an MML service too...)

But the 1925 from St Pancras ran and will (hopefully) be arriving at Derby shortly.

 

[Deerfold]

But the 1925 from St Pancras ran and will (hopefully) be arriving at Derby shortly.

Indeed, but presumably it wasn't clear that that was going to be the case when the 1855 was cancelled.

And you haven't time unles you're very quick to wait and see if the 1925 will run before going and getting a 1943 from Euston.

It would have been better advice to suggest the 1940.

Can the OP claim DelayRepay for this delay and put it towards the taxi fare home?

 

[MCR247]

Except that there were problems on the MML...

(though of course my "plan" relies on an MML service too...)

Either way going via Birmingham was still never an amazing back up plan. Even going via Grantham would have got you in earlier

 

[calc7]

It's a shame you weren't able to make the 1923 - may I ask how you ended up getting a train a whole 45 minutes later from Euston?!

 

[Ferret]

Either way going via Birmingham was still never an amazing back up plan. Even going via Grantham would have got you in earlier

At the time the advice was given, the line was blocked between Trent and Spondon. I'd say via Brum/Tamworth were about the only plans available.

 

[sheff1]

Even going via Grantham would have got you in earlier

As it turned out, it wouldn't due to problems on the ECML.

Indeed, but presumably it wasn't clear that that was going to be the case when the 1855 was cancelled.

And you haven't time unles you're very quick to wait and see if the 1925 will run before going and getting a 1943 from Euston.

Can the OP claim DelayRepay for this delay and put it towards the taxi fare home?

Well I would have been confident of getting the 1940 to Tamworth leaving St Pancras at 1925. As it turned out, there was no need to.

Yes the OP can claim DelayRepay.

 

[yorkie]

...
Well I would have been confident of getting the 1940 to Tamworth leaving St Pancras at 1925.... .

Absolutely, if you go the way shown on this map instead of Euston Road, not only is it a shorter walk but you can go at a brisk pace without loads of pedestrians in your way. Under 15 minutes, platform-to-platform is very doable.

 

[dvboy]

Via Birmingham was really bad advice :/

 

[RJ]

At the time the advice was given, the line was blocked between Trent and Spondon. I'd say via Brum/Tamworth were about the only plans available.

I was travelling quite some way down the MML from St Pancras on a Sheffield service and got to Leicester where it was announced the problems were kicking off. They were simply diverting trains via Nottingham.

One thing I learned from manning the Customer Information desk at a certain London terminus was that in the case of these kind of disruptions, it's best to be patient, wait and stick to the original route rather than go on another route (which by default would add hours to your journey anyway) on a wing and a prayer!

 

[emorris]

Thanks for the replies. We got there eventually, missed the bus and got a taxi. I'll add more detail of what happened in the morning!

 

[dvboy]

I was travelling quite some way down the MML from St Pancras on a Sheffield service and got to Leicester where it was announced the problems were kicking off. They were simply diverting trains via Nottingham.

One thing I learned from manning the Customer Information desk at a certain London terminus was that in the case of these kind of disruptions, it's best to be patient, wait and stick to the original route rather than go on another route (which by default would add hours to your journey anyway) on a wing and a prayer!

I agree - go as far as you can on your planned itinerary and if your train or connection ends up getting cancelled, that's when to start looking at alternatives.

 

[pjnathanail]

It was all go last night- EMT trains from Norwich were diverted via Leicester (missing Grantham) so we had a journey on a 158 swapping from fast line to slow line and back to dodge the London expresses! Did the problems in Long Eaton continue all night or not?

 

[bb21]

Thanks for the replies. We got there eventually, missed the bus and got a taxi. I'll add more detail of what happened in the morning!

I believe you would be entitled to Delay Repay in this case.