London Euston -> St Pancras Connection

[gcmozart]

I am getting the sleeper back from Fort William Friday pm -> Saturday am

Due Euston 07:49. It is a 12 - 15 minute walk Euston to St Pancras. I have done it many times so I know where I am going and where to go at St Pancras for the train I want to catch.

I want to get the HS1 service to Ashford that leaves at 08:12 on a separate Advance ticket.

This leaves 23 minutes for the connection. If the sleeper is on time I will make it no problem walking, however if it is a little bit late I will struggle.

If I missed that connection due to a late arrival on the sleeper will I be able to just get on the next HS1 to Ashford?

NR journey planner shows 08:37 departure from St Pancras as the connection on a through journey from Fort William, is that an indication that 08:12 is not a valid connection? A ticket on the 08:37 will cost substantially more than the 08:12.

I am guessing that if I book a shorter than "accepted" connection time all the risk is on me and even if the inbound connection is late I could be refused travel on the next service on my Advance ticket.

 

[causton]

Your last line is correct. Despite being a connection that may be achievable in real life, that connection would not meet the minimum connection time and therefore Southeastern could say you will have to buy a new ticket. Or they could authorise you to travel on the next train anyway, it is hard to tell until the day and what happens on SE-land, what staff you speak to, what their mood is etc

 

[185143]

The 08:12 is indeed not a valid connection. It's not impossible they may be sympathetic if the sleeper were to be severely delayed-however there is absolutely no entitlement to be accepted on any train, be given a refund or claim delay repay.

 

[gcmozart]

Thanks for the advice, that seems pretty straightforward.

Just to double check if I booked onto the 8:37 or 09:09 (which is substantially cheaper) then my ticket would be valid on the next train if the inbound sleeper was delayed?

 

[Merseysider]

Correct.

 

[talldave]

There are some truly miserable Southeastern staff guarding platforms 11-13, so don't rely on any goodwill.

 

[yorkie]

The ticket should work the barrier, but I don't know what the OBMs would say.

 

[talldave]

The ticket should work the barrier, but I don't know what the OBMs would say.

HS1 OBMs in my experience are courteous, pleasant and polite. I don't know if they're trained in a different part of the organisation or are managed by a different team, but the contrast between them and the miserable bunch on the gateline is enormous.