Travelling from St Albans to Coleshill Parkway "last train" on 7th Dec. No cheap advances available via Leicester, so looked at St Albans Abbey. An £11 advance available, which I've taken...however this bizarrely routes me as follows:
20:53 St Albans Abbey - Watford Junction 21:10
21:16 Watford Junction - London Euston 21:38
22:00 London Euston - Nuneaton 23:03
23:10 Nuneaton - Coleshill Parkway 23:25
Obviously there's loads to stations that are doubled back through, although presumably this is OK on an advance?
What makes it bizarre is that it is possible to avoid going into London by taking the 21:58 to Birmingham and changing at Rugby or Milton Keynes ending up on the same 22:00 ex Euston. Presumably should the 20:53 be just 2 minutes late into Watford I'll be able to travel via the alternative as I'll miss the connection, allowing for the connection time.
I've never used the St Albans abbey line, and will be travelling with luggage, what will the access be like at St Albans and the change at Watford (I'm familiar with Nuneaton, 7 minutes should be fine, hopefully no residual delay)
Finally, as the ticket is routed VWC and connections - the first two services are London Midland, could I travel via St Pancras from St Albans and walk up to Euston, or do I have to stick with the specified route for the "connections" I know it's ok to travel on trains that are slightly earlier.
20:53 St Albans Abbey - Watford Junction 21:10
21:16 Watford Junction - London Euston 21:38
22:00 London Euston - Nuneaton 23:03
23:10 Nuneaton - Coleshill Parkway 23:25
Obviously there's loads to stations that are doubled back through, although presumably this is OK on an advance?
What makes it bizarre is that it is possible to avoid going into London by taking the 21:58 to Birmingham and changing at Rugby or Milton Keynes ending up on the same 22:00 ex Euston. Presumably should the 20:53 be just 2 minutes late into Watford I'll be able to travel via the alternative as I'll miss the connection, allowing for the connection time.
I've never used the St Albans abbey line, and will be travelling with luggage, what will the access be like at St Albans and the change at Watford (I'm familiar with Nuneaton, 7 minutes should be fine, hopefully no residual delay)
Finally, as the ticket is routed VWC and connections - the first two services are London Midland, could I travel via St Pancras from St Albans and walk up to Euston, or do I have to stick with the specified route for the "connections" I know it's ok to travel on trains that are slightly earlier.