AIBU to ask for help with booking trains?

[clicknclack]

I want to book a train that goes through London (PAD-EUS) when I search for fares the cheapest it gives me allows 45 minutes to get through London (lunchtime-ish) which doesn't seem all that long. If I ask for extra time it charges me a boatload more. If I book the fares separately it costs 30 pounds or so more (ACK!) but it doesn't make much of a difference which train I take to PAD so it is crazy the cheapest way only allows one particular train.

Why do they make this so difficult?

Also if I book the two legs separately does it mean I have to buy a tube ticket?

I'm middle aged and am traveling alone so apparently railcars are out unless I suddenly become a student in the next half hour.

Queenie, that would be fabulous! I'm traveling the end of July.

Goodness just get a cab 😃

Do NOT get a cab, you'll be in traffic for an hour!

OP I'm on holiday end of July, sorry I can't help!

It will probably cost me one meelion pounds too.

Queenie, funnily enough so am I! (hope you are not also going to your ILs)

It's obviously your choice, OP, but I would have personally have no trouble with a 45 minute change. 30 minutes would be my cut-off.

45 minutes gives you time to nip into M&S for a bottle of wine for the trip :)

45 minutes is plenty. Go straight to Euston Square then walk. It's signposted.

Can i be the first to suggest that if you book a train, from norwich to coventry say, and your train being delayed into paddington means you don't make your connection then you will be allowed on the next train. It is a through ticket. You should be allowed 'through'. Only caveat being if you're not able-bodied and so actually need extra time.

Don't think anyone has said this yet - are both your journey legs (I.e. the one into Paddington and out of Euston) actually 'long distance' rather than 'commuter' routes? If one of them is a 'commuter' route you won't be tied to a particular train for that part of the journey, despite what the ticket says, as there are no advance fares on commuter routes. If you PM me your route I can probably tell you whether this applies.

I think yabu tickets ime usually allow far too much time. If you get genuinely delayed they will let you get the next one anyway.

45 minutes is bags of time for that journey at that time of day. Just be aware that at Paddington there are two different entrances to the underground that will take you to different lines - you need the entrance for circle/Hammersmith and City (yellow/pink), which you access by going back up platforms 1-9 and up some stairs, NOT via the stairs down on the main concourse. It's all signposted and there are pink/yellow stickers on the floor to guide you, just remember - follow any signs for the Hammersmith and City, not district or bakerloo.

If you've bought a ticket between to mainline stations that requires you to make a journey on the tube, your ticket will be valid to take you through the underground, no need for oyster/contactless card.

*two

Thanks everyone, I bought the tickets :) will trust Mumsnet that I have enough time.

Have you absorbed the information that your train ticket will also cover you for the tube journey between the mainline stations ?

yes thanks. It always used to be that way when I travelled across London on and ongoing ticket so it isn't surprising to me that it still covers the connection. Thanks for checking I didn't miss that!

Does it cost more if you allow for more time because a later train for the second half takes you into a more popular time to travel? Can you get round that by taking an earlier train for the first half?

Only use the national rail website, it doesn't charge you any booking fees

Yes it does. If you go to the National Rail journey planner, and then go from there (using its links) to book your specific journeys, it'll take you to The TRainLine, which charges booking fees.

Best to book with Great Western (coming from the West) or Virgin (West Coast & East Coast mainline operators).

And 40 minutes to get from Pad to EUS is ample. Hop on the Hammersmith & City Line or the Circle Line. Hop out at Euston Square, on the north side of the Euston Road, and walk the 5 minutes to Euston mainline station.

If your train is late into Paddington & you miss your Euston connection, then you can get your ticket mandated - ask the train manager on the train going in to Paddington, or the Information desks at either Paddington or Euston.

The Train Operating companies (TOCs) are robber barons of the 21st century, but the people who work for them on the trains & in the stations are usually lovely and very helpful.

oops, redundant post. Have a good journey. I love getting trains from/to Paddington - it still has a remnant of the glamour of the grand old days of train travel.

Euston, not so much ...

FoggyBottom you are suggestingg a lot of hopping. I wish more people would hop on and off trains, it would make my commute much more fun 😃 I am often criticised by DH for saying I'm 'jumping' in the shower but disappointing him by stepping in gracefully...

"Only use the national rail website, it doesn't charge you any booking fees"

Yes it does. If you go to the National Rail journey planner, and then go from there (using its links) to book your specific journeys, it'll take you to The TRainLine, which charges booking fees.

No it doesn't. I booked a train on it yesterday, it just directed me straight to the train carrier. Not the train line.com

OP, please make sure at Paddington that you get the Hammersmith and City Line from the platforms at the far side of the main line station (next to platform 14, see schematic station map here ) and not the Circle Line from the main tube concourse opposite platforms 4-5.

The Circle Line is not a continuous circle any more and a train from Paddington will terminate at Edgware Road and you will have to change, adding time to your journey.

Euston Square to Euston is easy, there are lots of signs and lots of people walking in the same direction. Also of note, the distance from the concourse to the barriers to the trains at Euston is quite long, and they close the barriers up to 3 minutes before departure.

FoggyBottom you are suggestingg a lot of hopping

I am a country bumpkin, but am in London at least once a week. I do indeed hop. It's my keep fit regime on commuting days.

No it doesn't. I booked a train on it yesterday, it just directed me straight to the train carrier. Not the train line.com

Oh good - I'm glad that's changed, because I always thought it was a swizz. It used to direct you to The Trainline, so I stopped using it, and went straight to the specific TOC. But I travel a LOT long distance by public transport, so am fairly familiar with the different mainline routes. People not so familiar might end up paying a booking fee.

Sudden thought from one of OPs posts, for off-peak tickets sometimes it looks like you are booking for a specific train, when actually you can travel on any similar train that day within certain time parameters, meaning OP could get an earlier train into Paddington and have more time to get to Euston. OP can you screenshot what you booked and we can look at it?

I went through Euston the other day and the only escalator problem was one shut going from the tube station ticket hall level to the mainline station. There were massive queues but if you avoid those escalators and go just to your right there are lift and stairs options which nobody ever seems to use.

But I wouldn't bother changing, just get off and walk from Euston sq as others suggest, I think you can see mainline Euston from Euston sq it is very close .

No promises on the hopping, I'm not terrible coordinated and might break something if I try.

Cinnamon, another poster messaged me and said the same thing (that I could take an earlier train to Paddington) I'd rather not post my ticket, I'm trying not to be too identifiable but thank you for the offer. Also thank you for the map :)

I tried going to Virgin's website and booking there but it was much cheaper to book through train line for some reason.