Liverpool - London with a tight connection at Crewe (Newbie needs advice travelling)

[Danusa86]

Hello All,

I'm new on the forum ! I am an Italian born student who lives most of his time down south, in Bournemouth !

I am venturing up north for the first time, flying on my way to Manchester/Liverpool but would like to catch a train on the way back to London.

Now ... I found an advance ticket offer on Virgin Trains from Liverpool to London Euston for just £20.00 (which is considerably higher than the £5.00 National Express wants to travel by coach, but a good price for trains I assume), my fear is that I might miss my connection though !

Let me explain. The Midland train from Liverpool to Crewe arrives at Platform 5 and the Virgin Train to London leaves 9 minutes later from Platform 6. Enough time to make it? what if the first train is late?

Any suggestion?

Thanks

Dan

 

[dvboy]

If you miss your connection, provided it's a valid connection ie shown in an itinerary on a booking website, you will be able to travel on the next service operated by the same train company, provided you hold a valid ticket(s) for your originally booked trains.

 

[maniacmartin]

The minimum connection time for Crewe is officially 10 minutes. To be covered in the event of a delay, you must allow this amount of time between trains. The itineraries that booking websites make should do this automatically.

With 9 minutes allowed, tough luck if you miss it!

 

[Danusa86]

I actually noticed it's 11 minutes, not 9 ... I had made the subtraction the other way round !

However I still need to be in London at a given time for a business meeting. Do you reckon those 11 minutes will suffice? how's the punctuality rate on those two lines?

 

[John @ home]

how's the punctuality rate on those two lines?

If you tell us which trains you intend to use and on which day of the week, we can provide a link to historic information which you could examine to see how punctual these two trains are.

 

[Danusa86]

If you tell us which trains you intend to use and on which day of the week, we can provide a link to historic information which you could examine to see how punctual these two trains are.

For sure ! it would be the 11.04 London Midland train from Liverpool Lime Street getting into Crewe at 11.45 and then the Virgin Train that leaves Crewe at 11.56 and gets into London Euston at 13.38. Thanks !

 

[bb21]

What time do you need to be in London by? Which day/date is it?

 

[Danusa86]

Be there around 2 PM on November 28th, looking for something not too expensive as I am a student ... National Express would be a bargain too but takes ages and besides this trains are much better !

 

[High Dyke]

Looks like the Virgin WC and connections price. Cheaper options may also be available depending on possible travel restrictions the OP wishes to subject themself to.

Try here: http://www.brfares.com/#!fares?orig=LIV&dest=EUS

Scroll down to Advance Purchase fares.

 

[martinsh]

Assuming you have no heavy luggage it takes 2 mins at most to go from platform 5 to platform 6 at Crewe.

Of the two trains you mention, the Liverpool - Crewe is pretty much always on time - often arrives early. The Crewe - London train is often a couple of minutes late as a train arriving at xx55 has to cross its path.

 

[John @ home]

it would be the 11.04 London Midland train from Liverpool Lime Street getting into Crewe at 11.45

The actual running of this train last Thursday is here. By clicking on "Train history", you can see its performance on other days by hovering over the date.

then the Virgin Train that leaves Crewe at 11.56 and gets into London Euston at 13.38.

Again, the actual running of this train last Thursday is here and by clicking on "Train history", you can see its performance on other days.

 

[martinsh]

The actual running of this train last Thursday is here. By clicking on "Train history", you can see its performance on other days by hovering over the date.
Again, the actual running of this train last Thursday is here and by clicking on "Train history", you can see its performance on other days.

That seems to back up the post I made from personal observation - though the delay to the Crewe - London train isn't normally as much as 35 mins !!

Note that only departure times are shown - the Liverpool - Birmingham is actually scheduled into Crewe at 1145 as the OP said.

 

[34D]

What time do you need to be in London by? Which day/date is it?

Depending how important the meeting is, I would work out how long by tube (etc) from Euston to my ultimate destination, then add in at least 30 mins if not 60 for extra contingency.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

For sure ! it would be the 11.04 London Midland train from Liverpool Lime Street getting into Crewe at 11.45 and then the Virgin Train that leaves Crewe at 11.56 and gets into London Euston at 13.38. Thanks !

Both trains are usually punctual (the 1156 is the Voyager starting from Chester).
If you have an Advance ticket these trains will be specified on your ticket.
If the trains fail to connect you will be able to travel on the following 1229 from Crewe (Manchester-Euston Pendolino) arriving Euston 1404.