Bradford stations to Kings Cross Advance

[Dr_Intoxicated]

I usually buy a Bradford Stations ticket rather than an Interchange or Forster Sq ticket as I like the flexibility and most travel planers seen to suggest Interchange and I prefer to travel from Foster Sq (better trains and I get a seat)

Previously when I have bought an advance ticket it specifies the exact train between Leeds and Kings Cross and then says connections.

This time when I have received the tickets as well as giving me a seat reservation Leeds to Kings Cross it has also specified a specific train from Bradford Interchange (without a seat reservation). The ticket still says Bradford Stations.

Do I have to use this specific service from Bradford to Leeds, this seems to be an additional constraint over previous tickets seeing as I did specifically purchase a Bradford Stations Ticket.

 

[Paul Kelly]

Do I have to use this specific service from Bradford to Leeds, this seems to be an additional constraint over previous tickets seeing as I did specifically purchase a Bradford Stations Ticket.

Technically yes you do, as the conditions for advance fares say you must travel on the booked trains. For future reference you can avoid this by specifiying either via Bramley or via Shipley - both of these will force you onto a non-reservable train between Bradford and Leeds (trains that call at Bramley are not reservable and it's not a timing point for the faster reservable trains, and none of the trains that go via Shipley are reservable) and it won't be printed on the ticket.

 

[Paul Kelly]

specifiying either via Bramley or via Shipley

I've just realised that sounds counter-intuitive when you wanted a ticket that was valid either way, but that just illustrates a bit of rail industry silliness for you...

 

[Dr_Intoxicated]

I've just realised that sounds counter-intuitive when you wanted a ticket that was valid either way, but that just illustrates a bit of rail industry silliness for you...

Thanks for that, now can I obtain a seat reservation on that Bradford Interchange train so at least I know I will have a seat? If so how do I go about it?

It is a Blackpool - York Service and has been standing room only in the past.

 

[Dr_Intoxicated]

As a point of interest I also have an advanced ticket for the outward journey from Kings Cross to Bradford stations and that only specifies the Kings Cross to Leeds train and connections!

 

[bb21]

Thanks for that, now can I obtain a seat reservation on that Bradford Interchange train so at least I know I will have a seat? If so how do I go about it?

It is a Blackpool - York Service and has been standing room only in the past.

No Northern service is reservable (for the purpose of a seat) on that route.

 

[30907]

This is one of the unfortunate side effects of Northern offering Advance fares for some of their journeys. If your connection to or from Leeds is one such then the system produces a "reservation", silly though this is. In practice I very much doubt you'd have a problem.

 

[Dr_Intoxicated]

This is one of the unfortunate side effects of Northern offering Advance fares for some of their journeys. If your connection to or from Leeds is one such then the system produces a "reservation", silly though this is. In practice I very much doubt you'd have a problem.

Thank you for that, can I ask a stupid question? If you can't reserve a seat what is the point of issuing reservations for the train? If it is full and standing with walk up passengers (unlikely but possible) what good is your reservation?

Note added in edit (I guess it could be compulsory reservations only)

 

[AlterEgo]

Thank you for that, can I ask a stupid question? If you can't reserve a seat what is the point of issuing reservations for the train? If it is full and standing with walk up passengers (unlikely but possible) what good is your reservation?

The reservation is there to tell you which train you should be on. It's also the railway's way of saying to the booking engine "there's someone with an Advance on here" - Advance allocations will be quota-controlled.

 

[Dr_Intoxicated]

Thank you for all your replies, I will explicitly book Foster Sq in future as I rate a seat over flexability.

I won't risk it as I do not want to be charged a penalty fare.

 

[30907]

The reservation is there to tell you which train you should be on. It's also the railway's way of saying to the booking engine "there's someone with an Advance on here" - Advance allocations will be quota-controlled.

And specifically it is there to tell passengers holding very cheap Advance tickets for say Blackburn-Leeds that they can only use that train. Unfortunately people like yourself are also affected.

BTW 1 the "penalty" fare would be the full Anytime Single Bradford-Leeds.
2 the ticket will be issued from Bradford Yorks Stations anyway.

 

[IanD]

Thank you for all your replies, I will explicitly book Foster Sq in future as I rate a seat over flexability.

I won't risk it as I do not want to be charged a penalty fare.

I usually do that as trains from Forster Square seem to leave about 2 minutes before those from the Interchange with a similar journey time (presumably why you're usually offered the later departure). I feel that trains from Forster Square are generally more reliable anyway.

Bear in mind that booking from Forster Square does mean you probably won't see any cheap advances on Grand Central that may be available so it's worth trying both stations first.

 

[Dr_Intoxicated]

i just bought an additional single Foster Sq to Leeds so I can travel in comfort

 

[Starmill]

I won't risk it as I do not want to be charged a penalty fare.

There is no danger of this particular point, Northern do not operate a penalty fares scheme (yet).

 

[yorkie]

i just bought an additional single Foster Sq to Leeds so I can travel in comfort

Your original ticket would be accepted, I'm sure.