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Close connections to other public transport

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YellowBrick

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I'm considering a long distance trip on LNER. When I arrive I'll then have to catch a bus to take me the last 20 miles. Problem is, the train ticket I want to get has me arrive exactly 10 minutes before the last bus of the day leaves from the station bus stop (about a 3 min walk from the platform).

What happens if (when!) the LNER train is 8+ minutes late and I miss the last bus of the day at nearly 11pm in the evening? Taxi? Hotel? my-problem-because-it's-less-than-30-mins?

(The next earlier train has me waiting 94 minutes at the bus stop only to catch the exact same bus; (and the train before that I miss the bus by 5 minutes and have to wait over two hours for that last bus again!) public transport connections suck :s ).
 
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Watershed

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I'm considering a long distance trip on LNER. When I arrive I'll then have to catch a bus to take me the last 20 miles. Problem is, the train ticket I want to get has me arrive exactly 10 minutes before the last bus of the day leaves from the station bus stop (about a 3 min walk from the platform).

What happens if (when!) the LNER train is 8+ minutes late and I miss the last bus of the day at nearly 11pm in the evening? Taxi? Hotel? my-problem-because-it's-less-than-30-mins?

(The next earlier train has me waiting 94 minutes at the bus stop only to catch the exact same bus; (and the train before that I miss the bus by 5 minutes and have to wait over two hours for that last bus again!) public transport connections suck :s ).
Unless it's an integrated bus-link ticket, you're out of luck if the train is late, unfortunately. If it's sufficiently delayed you'd be entitled to Delay Repay but that won't help you for a delay that's long enough to miss the bus, but short enough not to get compensation.

You either need take an earlier train to allow more time, or accept the risk of having to pay for a taxi/hotel.
 

yorkie

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Make sure you have a 'Plan B'.

If the train is under 30 minutes late you won't get any compensation, so only undertake the journey if you can afford to pay for a taxi (or hotel etc).

Unfortunately the UK isn't a patch on Switzerland for integrated transport (but that's a whole new topic) so the onus really is on you to have a backup. Sorry.
 

1955LR

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My "plan B" for arriving at Hereford from Birmingham , in time for the last bus home is exactly that, enough cash to pay for a Taxi. Published times give 40 mins to get to bus outside station entrance. I have had a few times when the train is either late or Cancelled sufficiently to miss the bus. . In all cases I have claimed for the relevant taxi fare and been reimbursed, usually as vouchers, as its an ex gratia payment and not part of delay repay, but it does need sufficient funds for the Taxi in the first place.
 
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YellowBrick

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Thanks. Well that sucks, not that I'm surprised.

So what if I had a PlusBus? Looking at the coverage map for that journey it would get me 1/3rd of the way to my destination (about 14 km).
 

Haywain

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(The next earlier train has me waiting 94 minutes at the bus stop only to catch the exact same bus;
I think I'd be taking the hit of waiting 94 minutes and finding somewhere, like a pub, to spend the bulk of the waiting time.

Thanks. Well that sucks, not that I'm surprised.

So what if I had a PlusBus? Looking at the coverage map for that journey it would get me 1/3rd of the way to my destination (about 14 km).
PlusBus would make no difference, it doesn't constitute an itinerary.
 

AlterEgo

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Thanks. Well that sucks, not that I'm surprised.

So what if I had a PlusBus? Looking at the coverage map for that journey it would get me 1/3rd of the way to my destination (about 14 km).
Wouldn't work either I'm afraid.

Bring some cash for a taxi just in case.
 

YellowBrick

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Ahah. Progress! (Thanks to Watershed's "Unless it's an integrated bus-link ticket," comment for giving me the idea to check)

It turns out that my destination town is "on" the rail network as "[YOURTOWN] (Coach)". So I can buy tickets directly to there! The "coach" in question is exactly this bus! (Bonus points: It only adds 80p to the journey cost, whereas stand alone the bus ticket is something absurd like £7!)

So third (and hopefully final) iteration of the question: What happens if I miss the 10 minute connection with this Advance ticket that is telling me to catch this exact connection? I'm guessing it's now the ToCs problem?
 

221129

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So third (and hopefully final) iteration of the question: What happens if I miss the 10 minute connection with this Advance ticket that is telling me to catch this exact connection? I'm guessing it's now the ToCs problem?
Correct.
 

Haywain

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But still take money for the taxi because odds on they will claim it's not their problem on the day, then you can pursue it back later.
Regardless of accepting responsibility, if the station is unstaffed (at 23:00 this would be quite likely), or staffed by a different TOC, taxi provision could be problematic. Having said that I can't imagine there are a lot of places in the UK where a 20 mile bus journey is available that late in the evening - many will see very few, if any, buses at that time of the evening.
 

clagmonster

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Is the bus the 22:49 Peterborough - Kings Lynn via Wisbech? If so, you do have the advantage that station staff are employed by LNER, and at the very least there will be a dispatcher on duty who you could approach after departure of the train. I imagine there will be a few station staff around as LNER provide the staff to tip out the late evening GTR terminating services.
 

YellowBrick

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Regardless of accepting responsibility, if the station is unstaffed (at 23:00 this would be quite likely), or staffed by a different TOC
Thanks for the warning. Fortunately it's an LNER station and the information services is open until at least 01:00, or so sayeth the NR website.

Having said that I can't imagine there are a lot of places in the UK where a 20 mile bus journey is available that late in the evening - many will see very few, if any, buses at that time of the evening.
I understand your doubt given this is the UK but this one does exist and I've taken it many times. In fact that particular bus continues on another 20km or so to somewhere 60km away from that train station where it terminates at 00:00!
To be fair it's also pretty much the only public transport to this place so...
 
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