Advance ticket but use earlier train

[BRM]

If the booked train is late can I use an earlier service, for eg if I have to get to my destination for an appointment and the late booked service wouldn't get me there in time?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Officially no, but a polite word with staff can often help.


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[Tim R-T-C]

Best person to speak to is the train guard, if possible, their word will of course carry far more weight than a "man on the platform", particularly if said man (or woman) is not even from the same train company, or just a hired in ticket agent.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Not only have I never been refused in such circumstances, but on occasions when I have not asked, I have been told by the Guard on the later service that the Guard on the earlier service would have taken me.

 

[Harpers Tate]

I think the best guidance here is to ask BEFORE you board in every case.

 

[bunnahabhain]

It also depends upon which TOC operates the service you're booked on and whether a different TOC operates the service you want to board. I have a huge issue with Northern Only AP tickets being regularly abused where folk are just boarding the first and fastest train they see.

 

[Merseysider]

It also depends upon which TOC operates the service you're booked on and whether a different TOC operates the service you want to board. I have a huge issue with Northern Only AP tickets being regularly abused where folk are just boarding the first and fastest train they see.

Had a scally do just this on TPE the other day, claiming her Northern AP for an hour ago was an 'open return' :roll: Became slightly abusive after being told she'd need a new ticket, and declaring that she had no money, she was promptly booted off at Warrington to wait for the stopper half an hour later

But yes, ask before boarding and you can't go wrong BRM. Only a very small minority of staff would refuse you.

 

[DeeGee]

I managed to get on a booked connection from St Pancras THREE hours early travelling back from Paris once - I'd given myself a massive safety buffer in case of late Eurostar arrival, and planned to meet someone in town while I was waiting, but they had a last minute change of plan.

Asked to be let through the gates to speak to the guard, spoke to the guard, he told me that he really shouldn't but would do "just this once".

 

[extendedpaul]

On the rare occasions I've asked a conductor for " ticket flexibility" for a particular service I've never been refused.

I think that the vast majority when approached with a reasonable request asked politely will agree.

As an aside I've also never heard a member of on board staff speak rudely to a passenger despite some severe provocation !

 

[DeeGee]

I've got a quick thought about this. Say I'm at Doncaster, and a 225 turns up, or at MKC and there's an 11 car Pendo. By the time I've located where the guard is, they've been there maybe a minute or so already. Would a guard look kindly on being sought out in such a location to ask about derogation of ticket conditions when (s)he has important tasks to concentrate on to get the train despatched on time?

 

[najaB]

I've got a quick thought about this. Say I'm at Doncaster, and a 225 turns up, or at MKC and there's an 11 car Pendo. By the time I've located where the guard is, they've been there maybe a minute or so already. Would a guard look kindly on being sought out in such a location to ask about derogation of ticket conditions when (s)he has important tasks to concentrate on to get the train despatched on time?

In that case I would ask station staff first, they generally know where the guard/TM will be standing to do dispatch. That will cut down on the time needed to find him or her.

 

[Haydn1971]

I'd say that 4/5 times that I've asked, I've been allowed to travel on the earlier train - typically when refused, it's been a harassed looking guard on a late running service with other issues to deal with - so, best advice is to ask, but don't be offended if refused.