Query about Stansted airport to Bristol Temple Meads?

[lukus]

Hey guys.

Slight bit of concern - I've just come back from Sweden only to find out Stansted Airport's border control was ridiculous (first time going through here) with an almost 1 hour wait (which was mostly spent idle in the connecting /arriving tunnels), leaving me 15 minutes to spare to get on my booked train journey today (I had given myself an hour to transfer).

This is also factoring in that we landed 20 minutes earlier than expected, I was about "mid way" in the queue (from our plane) and used the e-Passport section (which wasn't as much of a giant mass of bodies like the other sections) and no luggage to pick up...

I personally was fine this time, but my girlfriend will be flying over here in November also with an hour gap from the expected landing time /advanced fair departure...

so I am wondering, what will happen in this scenario if she misses the intended train journey? Would she just be allowed on the next available train with the same ticket due to the nature of the airport (given permission from staff first) or be charged for an entire new one? (landing 18:25, departing Stansted 19:30, arriving Bristol Temple Meads 23:30)

I was also lucky enough to have my tickets from when I left Bristol, but I didn't manage to see one of the self-service machines at stansted to pick up your advanced tickets, so slightly concerned she might not find it either lol.

Baring in mind she is also from Sweden and this will be her first time pretty much traveling to here, I really don't want to see her getting undue fines or penalties or anything out of honest confusion or whatever, and especially undue expense that could be sorted now?

I know there are two more trains going to bristol after this one, so I am not worried about her not getting to the destination at least, so just wondering about the scenario of the not-so certain border control + advanced fairs?

 

[jb]

As you've discovered, getting through Stansted is hit-and-miss and an hour is not enough, but you actually have considerably more leeway in practice. The Stansted-London train is (I think) unreservable so all that could matter is the booked train out of Paddington. The journey planners tend to be generous as regards the cross-London transfer (even for a first-timer) so I'd imagine she'd be fine. Suggest you help her with fairly clear instructions on Liv St - Paddington all the same.

In any case I find it hard to imagine there would be a problem at that time of the evening, although others are better placed than me to advise on this.

The TVMs at Stansted are almost impossible to miss. Most of the time there's a manual ticket check before the platform anyway, so she'll be sent back / directed.

 

[Flamingo]

Border control is nothing to do with the railway, and would not be counted as an appropriate excuse for missing a train with an Advance ticket (either would a delayed flight) as it is not in our control (unlike a delay on the train down from Stansted or tube delays).

For that reason we specifically advise people traveling from airports not to buy Advance tickets.

(Edited to add: I know 16 people will now turn up saying that they missed their train but were allowed travel, but that is not policy, and does depend on who you meet. Personally, I will say yes, for no other reason than I know staff who have had a "quiet chat" after a complaint came in from somebody who got charged in similar circumstances - other staff with different line managers will happily charge).

 

[yorkie]

Ask the Train Company.

Some TOCs (e.g. TPE) cater for this scenario, while others want you to pay the full walk-up fare or use alternative travel means. I don't think CrossCountry (XC) are going to be particularly sympathetic towards you so your best bet is either to pay for a walk-up (ie, not Advance) ticket or simply avoid using them.

It's also worth considering a ticket from Stansted to Bristol via London, which would allow you to get the first available train to London, and you could then plan a spare hour or two in London, which may be a bit more useful than spending the time at the airport.

 

[jb]

It's also worth considering a ticket from Stansted to Bristol via London

I can't find any Advances that go any other way.

 

[Goatboy]

I always allow 3 hours between scheduled arrival time of the aircraft and scheduled departure time of the train for this very reason.

 

[Flamingo]

Might not bg enough, I've had people claim their flight was eight hours delayed (mind you, their ticket was for a train 10 hours previous - figure that one out).

 

[Gathursty]

Is OP travelling with XC: Stansted - Birmingham - Bristol or GA/FGW: Stansted - London - Bristol?

 

[lukus]

Hey guys,

Thanks for the replies, very much appreciated!

I don't think CrossCountry (XC) are going to be particularly sympathetic...

It's also worth considering a ticket from Stansted to Bristol via London, which would allow you to get the first available train to London, and you could then plan a spare hour or two in London, which may be a bit more useful than spending the time at the airport.

The journey is Stanstead > Liverpool street > Paddington (via circle line) > Bristol temple meads, so there is no Cross country involved? Abellio greater anglia > Circle line > First great western AFAIK.

I'm assuming here you mean book a later train from paddington > Bristol, and pay for the stanstead express /tube on the day?

I booked the ticket through FGW so should I throw them an e-mail with my above concerns and see what they say?

I always allow 3 hours between scheduled arrival time of the aircraft and scheduled departure time of the train for this very reason.

I think for the time of day, 3 hours is a bit excessive though - the current booked train would get her here in Bristol for 23:30, the following two available trains would arrive 00:10 and 01:30 and I would hate to plan a journey on the very last train for it to be canceled on her.

There literally isn't /wasnt any other flights unless she went from another airport in Sweden, which isn't particularly easy for her to get to and also raising the costs also :/.

For the record we just searched for flights (and accompanying train /coach journeys) to find relatively cheap trips (in total) to see each other hopefully that little bit more often, by being flexible on the dates. But border control (not sure how much better gatwick is to stanstead) being the grey area in the journey and excessive long waiting times mean creeping into peak time periods /inability to advance book /possible requirement to stay overnight in london is all very daunting /confusing now

Wondering if it actually is cheaper to buy the national express tickets whilst on the plane and going by coach instead that ryanair were selling >.<...

Border control is nothing to do with the railway, and would not be counted as an appropriate excuse for missing a train with an Advance ticket (either would a delayed flight)

Expected as much, though being built into as part of the airport somewhat as a connecting service and the fact you can even book advanced ticket in the first place from there (which should be somewhat exclusive for incoming flights?) I would have thought there might have been some policy in place for those potential circumstances considering (at least in my experience) most off-peak trains are pretty empty anyway?

I know my travel insurance would cover a delayed flight and any expenses incurred to finish off one's journey to the end destination via public transport but it's just that grey area at border control were technically everything is on time .


Anyway - I shale write an e-mail to FGW and see what they say about it, and see what can be done.

If anyone knows a better way to go from bristol > Sweden would love to know!

Thanks again though, much appreciated

 

[jb]

I booked the ticket through FGW so should I throw them an e-mail with my above concerns and see what they say?

Can't do any harm, but they will likely say that Advances are valid on the booked train only. In fact I don't know what else they can say.

I think for the time of day, 3 hours is a bit excessive though - the current booked train would get her here in Bristol for 23:30, the following two available trains would arrive 00:10 and 01:30 and I would hate to plan a journey on the very last train for it to be canceled on her.

It looks like you are referring to a 21:45 departure from Paddington, which (as said above) still offers a fair degree of wiggle room on a 18:25 landing at Stansted.

For the record we just searched for flights (and accompanying train /coach journeys) to find relatively cheap trips (in total) to see each other hopefully that little bit more often, by being flexible on the dates. But border control (not sure how much better gatwick is to stanstead) being the grey area in the journey and excessive long waiting times mean creeping into peak time periods /inability to advance book /possible requirement to stay overnight in london is all very daunting /confusing now

Let's not get too carried away. It looks like the worst that can happen is the requirement for a super off-peak single from Paddington at £30.50.

Wondering if it actually is cheaper to buy the national express tickets whilst on the plane and going by coach instead that ryanair were selling >.<...

I don't know what you mean here, but I think you can safely conclude that it is never cheaper, and may be more expensive, to buy things on the plane. Particularly as you invariably don't know what you're buying and, worse, the people selling don't know what they're selling.

EDIT: it has only just occurred to me that the OP may well be unclear regarding the Stansted-London leg (and particularly its unreservability)

Just to make it very clear, you can catch any train to London and any underground to Paddington. London trains go from Stansted every 15 minutes so that won't be a particular stumbling block. Booked train restrictions only apply on the London-Bristol leg. It is perfectly possible (indeed likely) to be a little behind scheduled time at Stansted and still make it to Paddington in plenty of time.

 

[tony_mac]

Expected as much, though being built into as part of the airport somewhat as a connecting service and the fact you can even book advanced ticket in the first place from there (which should be somewhat exclusive for incoming flights?) I would have thought there might have been some policy in place for those potential circumstances considering (at least in my experience) most off-peak trains are pretty empty anyway?

Like a lot of others, rail companies seem to treat travelers from airports as 'premium' passengers and so try to extract as much money from them as possible. They will happily lose a few passengers if the rest will pay full price.

National Express are even worse!
Birmingham to Heathrow T5 is £32, even if booked in advance. This is more than the fare to Exeter, and between 2 and 5 times the fare to London.

There is only one train company that does offer some exception for airport travel, which is First Transpennine. First Group also run the trains to Bristol, but First Great Western don't offer this exception. (I assume that passengers to London Airports are less likely to drive than those to Manchester and Liverpool).

BTW, I have a Swedish friend living in Bristol - but, I think they usually pay lots and fly from Heathrow.

 

[Goatboy]

Might not bg enough, I've had people claim their flight was eight hours delayed (mind you, their ticket was for a train 10 hours previous - figure that one out).

True but the compensation due from the airline for an 8 hour delay will probably cover the ticket price anyway, so remind them of that next time they pull that one

 

[lukus]

It looks like you are referring to a 21:45 departure from Paddington, which (as said above) still offers a fair degree of wiggle room on a 18:25 landing at Stansted.

This will be the entire journey to avoid any confusion:

departs Stansted Airport at 19:30 travel by Train service provider Greater Anglia to station London Liverpool Street arrives 20:17
departs London Liverpool Street at 20:32 travel by London Underground to station London Paddington arrives at 20:57
departs London Paddington at 21:15 travel by Train service provider First Great Western to station Bristol Parkway arrives 22:46 ( seats reserved: Coach: B Seats: 60 )
departs Bristol Parkway at 23:05 travel by Train service provider First Great Western to station Bristol Temple Meads arrives 23:19

EDIT: it has only just occurred to me that the OP may well be unclear regarding the Stansted-London leg (and particularly its unreservability)

Probably?

All I know is, on the national rail' website I simply put in "Stansted Airport to Bristol Temple meads" and took the £19 advanced booking that seemed appropriate (at the time) for the arrival time.

I assumed that since my itinerary says "departs Stansted Airport at 19:30 travel by Train service provider Greater Anglia to station London Liverpool Street arrives 20:17" that, if this specific train would be missed, I would then be liable to pay, or in part for that particular leg of the journey?

I honestly don't know if an advanced booked ticket from A-D lets you go on trains before /after the designated time given, and or how you can tell what services you can get on which is not specified? I know the tube ticket would of worked regardless since there isn't a set time to that.

Just to make it very clear, you can catch any train to London and any underground to Paddington. London trains go from Stansted every 15 minutes so that won't be a particular stumbling block. Booked train restrictions only apply on the London-Bristol leg. It is perfectly possible (indeed likely) to be a little behind scheduled time at Stansted and still make it to Paddington in plenty of time.

So how does one tell when /what train you can or cant get on with a particular ticket for the record? I've only ever seen the warnings saying "only permitted on the specified trains" etc :/

but if that was the case, I was expecting it would then cost the £60 odd for the off-peak price from stansted, hence why I though national express would be cheaper (which seems to cost in the region of £30-40+ single from airport to bristol)

I think when I last checked, the train was cheaper than the coach only by advanced fair, but the coach price themselves were advanced /prebooked prices too, so meh.

I guess I don't understand some fundamentals of traveling it would seem >.<


Thanks for the replies once again everyone, appreciated as always.

 

[starrymarkb]

Like a lot of others, rail companies seem to treat travelers from airports as 'premium' passengers and so try to extract as much money from them as possible. They will happily lose a few passengers if the rest will pay full price.

National Express are even worse!
Birmingham to Heathrow T5 is £32, even if booked in advance. This is more than the fare to Exeter, and between 2 and 5 times the fare to London.

There is only one train company that does offer some exception for airport travel, which is First Transpennine. First Group also run the trains to Bristol, but First Great Western don't offer this exception. (I assume that passengers to London Airports are less likely to drive than those to Manchester and Liverpool).

BTW, I have a Swedish friend living in Bristol - but, I think they usually pay lots and fly from Heathrow.

Also Airports are specifically excluded from Starting or Stopping short with NatEx. So while a return to London from Exeter can be had for £10, you are looking at around £40 to go to Heathrow (on the same coach which calls at Heathrow on the way in to London!)

 

[jb]

So how does one tell when /what train you can or cant get on with a particular ticket for the record? I've only ever seen the warnings saying "only permitted on the specified trains" etc :/

One uses "The Force".

 

[sheff1]

So how does one tell when /what train you can or cant get on with a particular ticket for the record? I've only ever seen the warnings saying "only permitted on the specified trains" etc :/

If you have a reservation for a train from Paddington your ticket is only valid on that train for that section of your journey. The trains from Stansted Airport are not reserveable and are classed as connecting trains which means you can use any suitable train for that part of the journey.

In your specific example your girlfriend could catch the 1915 train if she made it. She could also get the 1945 if she missed the 1930. As the 1945 is due in Liverpool St at 2033 she should still have time to get to Paddington for the 2115.

But border control (not sure how much better gatwick is to stanstead).

If anyone knows a better way to go from bristol > Sweden would love to know!

In my experience the queues are shorter at Gatwick than Stansted ... of course, your experience may vary.

Sweden is a big country so it depends where you want to go ! As I am usually aiming for Southern Sweden I often fly to Copenhagen and catch the train. Easyjet fly to Copenhagen from Bristol. That, though, would be of little use if your final destination is Sundsvall !

 

[Tetchytyke]

One uses "The Force".

If you have a reservation coupon for a leg of a journey, you can only use that train.

If you don't, then you're only supposed to use the train on your itinerary, but using one just before or just after will usually be ok.

 

[jb]

Sweden is a big country so it depends where you want to go ! As I am usually aiming for Southern Sweden I often fly to Copenhagen and catch the train. Easyjet fly to Copenhagen from Bristol. That, though, would be of little use if your final destination is Sundsvall !

Quite. When the ash cloud came down in 2010 I found myself, most conveniently, in Umeå (I lived in the UK at the time). Sundsvall is indeed a long way from Copenhagen.

 

[lukus]

If you have a reservation for a train from Paddington your ticket is only valid on that train for that section of your journey.

By that, you mean seats that can be reserved?

Sweden is a big country so it depends where you want to go ! As I am usually aiming for Southern Sweden I often fly to Copenhagen and catch the train. Easyjet fly to Copenhagen from Bristol. That, though, would be of little use if your final destination is Sundsvall !

She lives in Falun, which is quite far way from most major airports AFAIK.

Many thanks all!

 

[jb]

By that, you mean seats that can be reserved?

Yes, a specifically numbered booked seat appearing on the itinerary is a sure fire sign that a particular leg is reservable and hence booked train only.

 

[sheff1]

She lives in Falun, which is quite far way from most major airports AFAIK.

I think if I was travelling Falun to Bristol I would fly from Arlanda to Heathrow with SAS.

 

[Nym]

Can I just point out that if one has heavy luggage, one would be much better travelling via from Stanstead to Paddington via Stanstead Express to Tottenham Hale, then onto the Victoria Line there (Step Free Access Available) and then if step free is imperative travelling via the Northern Ticket Hall at Kings Cross St Pancras (If not, the Tube Ticket Hall Escalators) to access the Sub Surface Lines and get a H&C/C Service to Paddington from there, gives you a lot less stairs to fight with. (Only at Paddington H&C)

 

[lukus]

I think if I was travelling Falun to Bristol I would fly from Arlanda to Heathrow with SAS.

Well to and from stansted, flight tickets are costing around £16-20 each way. (They of course can cost more)

With advanced fairs on the trains, these were also in the region of £16-23. for me, so it had cost under £80 for a return flight + return train fair.

When I looked at heathrow at the time, the cost of the flight alone was 2-3 times that much, and gatwick was roughly costing double (including trains)

so we were opting with stansted mostly because we could see each other about twice as much :3


Thank you all for your help and advice!

 

[sheff1]

Fair enough. Just shows that one person's 'better' is not the same as another's.

If anyone knows a better way to go from bristol > Sweden would love to know!

Hope your girlfriend does not encounter any problems.