Timing of train tickets after disembarking

[kilili]

Hi all,

 

Arriving in Southampton, and we are thinking of taking the train to Waterloo, as this is where our hotel is located.  What time can I schedule the train for considering the time needed for disembarkation?

 

TIA

[gumshoe958]

It’s only a 10 minute cab ride to the station, so you should be fine any time after 9am - maybe even earlier if you disembark quickly.

The train takes about 1 hour 20 mins and they normally run every half hour. 
 

Note if you book a cheaper “Advance Single” ticket, you must travel on the specific train you booked (although you won’t have a specific seat reserved on it). The more expensive “Anytime Single” is much more flexible and allows you to travel on any train that day.

[John Bull]

On the Southampton central to London Waterloo line, fares command a big premium for trains leaving before 9am (or more accurately for trains which arrive in London before 10am). That's so that train operators can screw commuters

But advance fares for trains from 9am can be as cheap as £13.

As per Gumshoes' post, advance tickets are only good for the train time that you book - if you miss that train your tickets are trash & you'll have to pay the walk-up fare.

Cheap advance tickets are available from about 12 weeks out, and not always available just a day or three out.

So a couple of months ahead buy cheap advance tickets on-line for 9am (arrives Waterloo 10.24am), or f you're not confident choose one an hour or so later.

 

You can buy tickets direct on the train operator's website https://www.southwesternrailway.com/ or via the National Rail website https://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/ which I find simpler to navigate.

Fares are identical on the two sites.

 

If you're allocated a late disembarkation slot its normally no problem to ask at ship's Customer  Relations to be moved forwards, citing onward travel arrangements.

Whatever train you take that morning you're likely to be too early for your hotel check-in but hotels will normally look after guests' luggage from early same-day, allowing you to head out and explore before checking-in later.

 

JB 🙂

 

[kilili]

Thank you so much for this information.  Marked my calendar!