Long (and unnecessary?) connection at Haymarket

[trainophile]

Just booking Advance tickets on Trainsplit, route Southport to Aberdeen, departing 24th July at 08:21. I note it shows "long delay" at Haymarket, arriving at 13:27 and departing at 14:35. However the minimum connection time for HYM is 5 minutes and there's a 13:33 direct Aberdeen train, so why wouldn't it put me on that one rather than having to hang around? They appear to arrive and depart on island platforms too, being 2 and 3.

Presumably it's what keeps the price low, but I'm tempted to splurge another tenner (railcard price) for an Advance on the 13:33, which would keep my options open. Ironically the Advance ticket for the 14:35 on its own is £4 more than the 13:33 one, so I'm thinking it's not to do with the later one being a less lightly loaded service. Just puzzled. Any thoughts?

(Of course this would mean I'd be finishing short at Haymarket, but who is going to know?)

*Edited to correct departure time to 14:35*.

 

[30907]

The 1435 (not 1425) Aberdeen is LNER, the 1333 Scotrail - possible reason?

 

[Gaelan]

The 1435 (not 1425) Aberdeen is LNER, the 1333 Scotrail - possible reason?

Yes, this is likely it - LNER's services between Edinburgh and Aberdeen often have better-value advances.

 

[trainophile]

The 1435 (not 1425) Aberdeen is LNER, the 1333 Scotrail - possible reason?

Thanks, have edited OP. I never thought to check operators! Seems they stop at different stations en route but as both go to ABD it still seems a bit weird.

 

[voyagerdude220]

Whilst I can't answer your question- it annoys me when journey planning websites send you on journeys like the OP's (e.g. Lancashire towards Aberdeen etc.) via Waverley instead of- changing at Haymarket- with Haymarket obviously being a much user friendly Station owing to it's smaller size compared with Waverley and also you'd have more time at Haymarket.